ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Human Trafficking

Michael Connarty: To ask the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to improve the rate of conviction of those involved in human trafficking.

Edward Garnier: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is taking a number of steps to improve the rate of successful prosecutions in cases of human trafficking in England and Wales. They include working with law enforcement agencies and others, both in the United Kingdom and in source countries, to improve investigation and evidence gathering to support prosecutions of trafficking cases. The CPS is also encouraging victims of human trafficking to support criminal proceedings. They have published a new public policy statement and are working with non-government organisations in the development of further measures to assist and support victims.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Committee on Climate Change: Finance

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the budget is of the Committee on Climate Change for the comprehensive spending review period.

Gregory Barker: Following representations from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the Government and the CCC are engaged in discussions to agree a revised funding package for the spending review period to enable the CCC to manage the delivery of its work programme while at the same time contributing to the overall savings that all public bodies are expected to make over the next four years. The Government expect to conclude these discussions in the near future.

Departmental Allowances

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what expenses were claimed by (a) paid and (b) unpaid special advisers working in his Department in the last 12 months.

Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger) on 27 April 2011, Official Report, column 451W. There have been no further claims since this date.

Departmental Billing

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many invoices received by his Department were paid (a) on time and (b) late in each month since May 2010; and what the monetary value was of invoices paid late.

Gregory Barker: The Government have set a target for Departments to pay invoices from small and medium sized entities within five working days of the receipt of a validly rendered invoice. As it is not practical to distinguish SMEs from other suppliers, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) applies this target to all payments. From May 2010 to May 2011 DECC paid 85% of invoices with five working days. 7,729 invoices worth £551 million were paid within five working days. The remaining 1,318 invoices, worth £266 million, were paid after the five-day target and include a number of invoices from larger suppliers one of which was for £103 million. 99.9% of invoices were paid within standard commercial terms of 30 days.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Capita

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contracts his Department has awarded to Capita since May 2010; and what the (a) individual monetary value and (b) net worth was of those contracts.

Owen Paterson: No contracts were awarded by the Northern Ireland Office to Capita since May 2010.

Departmental Manpower

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of staff employed by the Northern Ireland Office were based in Northern Ireland on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Owen Paterson: As at 31 March, the most recent date for which figures are available, 68% of staff working in the Northern Ireland Office are based in Northern Ireland.

Security

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the reasons for the maintenance of the security restrictions in Lower Chichester street, Belfast which prevent access for buses.

Owen Paterson: Following a regular review of security, Lower Chichester street was closed to all traffic on 30 April 2010 at the request of the Minister of Justice, David Ford MLA, as an appropriate and measured response to the current threat.
	The closure of Lower Chichester street was last reviewed in September 2010 and I have made a commitment to review it on a yearly basis in consultation with the Department of Justice, the Department of Regional Development, PSNI and other interested parties.
	As soon as the security situation allows it is my intention to remove the road closures, once again allowing access for buses.

PRIME MINISTER

British Irish Council

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the work of the British-Irish Council.

David Cameron: A meeting of the British-Irish Council was held on 20 June 2011, when the UK delegation was led by the Deputy Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr Clegg). A copy of the communiqué published after the meeting can be found on the British-Irish Council website:
	http://www.gov.je/BritishIrishCouncil/Communiques/Pages/16BICSummitLondon.aspx

Intelligence and Security Committee Annual Report

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects the next Intelligence and Security Committee Annual Report to be published.

David Cameron: We expect to receive and publish the Report shortly.

WALES

Departmental Allowances

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what expenses were claimed by (a) paid and (b) unpaid special advisers working in her Department in the last 12 months.

David Jones: None.

Departmental Procurement

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by her Department since May 2010.

David Jones: My Department obtains most of its services through arrangements with the Ministry of Justice and has few contracts of its own. Those it does issue contain provisions for the performance standards expected from the contractor to ensure value for money for the taxpayer.

Human Trafficking

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussion she has had with the First Minister on cross-border trafficking of human beings between England and Wales.

David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and I have regular discussions with the First Minister on a wide range of issues.
	I am a member of the Inter Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking, and the Welsh Government's Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services has also been invited to join the group. I am pleased that the UK Government and the Welsh Government will be working together as we develop a new strategy to combat human trafficking.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Tourism

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will assess the effects of reductions in funding from his Department for touring arts organisations on the(a)viability of arts venues and(b)number of staff employed by venues; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: Arts Council England (ACE) has addressed touring arts organisations as a priority in their 10-year framework “Achieving great art for everyone” and details of how this will be met shall be set out in the autumn.
	ACE will continue to fund a wide range of organisations that tour, and organisations which programme touring work in a variety of spaces, including funded and commercial arts venues, schools, village halls and outdoor spaces. Within ACE's National Portfolio, over 100 organisations identified touring as a core part of their work. An additional £18 million of lottery income a year will be invested through the National Portfolio budget to organisations for touring to engage broader audiences.
	ACE recognises challenges ahead for venues which rely on local authority funding and are subject to cuts which may impact on staff infrastructure. ACE staff in the regions are working closely with local authority partners to support the touring infrastructure.

Broadband

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  by what date he expects superfast broadband internet access to have been introduced to existing areas of poor access in North West Durham constituency;
	(2)  how he plans to monitor the implementation of the delivery of superfast broadband internet access across the UK by 2015;
	(3)  what (a) timetable and (b) plans he has to achieve the roll-out of superfast broadband internet access across the UK by 2015;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) economic growth and (b) businesses in areas with poor broadband service of the revision of the Government's timetable for the roll-out of universal broadband;
	(5)  what support and assistance he plans to provide local authorities implementing the programme for delivery of superfast broadband internet access across the UK by 2015.

Edward Vaizey: The Government have allocated £530 million to ensure superfast broadband reaches at least 90% of households in each local authority. Four pilot projects were announced in October. Wiltshire, Devon and Somerset and Norfolk received second wave funding announced on 27 May. I will be announcing the allocations for the devolved Administrations and for local authorities in England in the near future.
	To monitor the implementation of the delivery of superfast broadband and to determine whether the UK has the best superfast broadband network in Europe, we will be publishing a balanced scorecard which will include speed, price, choice and coverage, as well as take up. This is due to be published in the summer of 2011.
	With regards to the timetable for roll out, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt) announced on 12 May 2011 the ambition that 90% of the UK population should have access to a superfast broadband connection and universal access to a service of at least 2Mbps by 2015.
	The impact of broadband on business growth is well documented in publicly available studies. I have not made any new assessment of the impact of the revised timetable for broadband roll-out on economic growth or businesses in areas with poor broadband services.
	In addition to providing a funding allocation to local authorities to support the roll-out of superfast, we have in BDUK compiled an experienced team to help authorities to manage the procurement process, including an online resource centre for local authorities and the development of a procurement framework, to which authorities will have access.

Digital Broadcasting

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the BBC on digital switchover.

Jeremy Hunt: holding answer 27 June 2011
	I have not had any discussions with the BBC on digital TV switchover. However, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, attended two ministerial group meetings along with representatives from the BBC, on digital TV switchover on 20 January and 10 May 2011.
	I met with the BBC and commercial radio operators to discuss radio switchover in March. In addition, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), has attended a number of meetings with the BBC and other representatives of the radio sector as part of the Digital Radio Action plan process.

Earls Court Exhibition Centre

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will estimate the effect on the level of revenue from (a) business and (b) tourist visitors to the UK which would result from the closure of Earls Court exhibition centre.

John Penrose: This Department is not able to estimate the overall effect of the closure of the Earls Court exhibition centre on business and tourism revenues in the UK. However, London has a significant number of other venues for conferences, exhibitions and events, including Olympia, the O2, Wembley and ExCel London, and the Olympic games and Paralympic games in 2012 presents the greatest-ever opportunity to boost London and the UK's appeal as an events destination. The business tourism and events sector will also benefit from a range of proposals included in the Government's new tourism policy, published in March.

Local Broadcasting: Television

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress he has made on his proposals for the future of local television; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The Government expect to publish their final proposals for local television in a statement in July 2011. This will set out the framework for viable local services, the expected timescales and processes involved.

Sports: Public Bodies

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he has made an assessment of the standards of governance in the UK's amateur sports governing bodies.

Jeremy Hunt: holding answer 27 June 2011
	There are many excellent examples of effective governance within the sports movement in this country, where the best use is made of the principles of good corporate governance, transparency and independent scrutiny. Through Sport England and UK Sport we continue to challenge our core funded sporting bodies to create, improve and maintain the best possible governance structures.
	The Sport and Recreation Alliance also published their Code on Good Governance in May this year and I whole-heartedly endorse its contents. It is in everyone's interests for those principles to be universally adopted and I am committed to support that development.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Common Agricultural Policy

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made on (a) achieving a reduction in the level of common agriculture policy (CAP) subsidies and (b) her plans for their abolition following negotiations on the future of the CAP after 2013; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The European Commission is due to bring forward proposals on the EU budget from 2014-20 at the end of this month and on the CAP post-2013 later in the year. In the meantime we are continuing to work constructively with all EU partners to make the case for genuine and farsighted reform.
	There must be a very substantial cut to the CAP budget during the next financial framework. In a smaller overall budget, future CAP expenditure should tackle the key objectives of encouraging a competitive, sustainable EU agriculture sector able to respond to climate change challenges, reducing reliance on subsidies and focusing resources on the provision of public goods.

Farming: Pigs

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of effects of intensive pig farming on (a) animal welfare and (b) the local (i) environment and (ii) economy.

James Paice: All pig producers must comply with relevant environmental and animal welfare legislation, which applies equally to all livestock farms, regardless of size or production system. Poor welfare may occur in both intensive and extensive systems.
	The Animal Welfare Act 2006 protects the welfare of animals on-farm and makes it an offence to cause suffering to any animal. The Act also contains a duty of care to animals. This means that anyone responsible for an animal must take reasonable steps to ensure the animal's welfare needs are met. DEFRA has also published a pig welfare code on its website which encourages high standards of husbandry and which farmers are required by law to have access to, and be familiar with.
	DEFRA has not made any specific assessment of the implications for animal welfare of intensive pig farms. It is important to recognise that poor welfare may occur in both intensive and extensive systems. This is echoed in the current scientific advice from the Farm Animal Welfare Council, that the most significant influence on the welfare of livestock is the stock-keeper, not the system in which it is reared.
	Large scale pig units are subject to the integrated pollution prevention and control directive (IPPC). Implemented through the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010, this is the regulatory instrument for preventing and controlling emissions from industrial installations, including sites for the intensive rearing of poultry and pigs that reach or exceed stated thresholds. Under the IPPC directive, operators of affected installations are required to control emissions by demonstrating that the site is compliant with best available techniques (BAT). What are considered to be BAT in each case will be for the Environment Agency, as regulator, to determine.
	In line with the progressive reform of the common agricultural policy, it is important for the UK pig sector to compete globally. We therefore welcome innovative and entrepreneurial efforts by farmers to improve their competitiveness while protecting the environment and meeting animal welfare standards.

Farming: Pigs

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department issues to the pig farming industry on meeting environmental and animal welfare standards; and whether she has any plans to review this guidance.

James Paice: DEFRA has published a pig welfare code on its website which encourages high standards of husbandry and emphasises the importance of good stockmanship for animal welfare. By law, farmers are required to have access to, and be familiar with this code.
	'Keeping pigs—A beginners guide' was recently published on Directgov which includes links to further information such as the DEFRA publication “A Guide for New Pig Keepers”. This guidance is for all pig keepers and supplements more detailed guidance on rules for feeding of by-products to animals. Both booklets can be viewed on the DEFRA website.
	Also available through links from the DEFRA website is Environment Agency guidance for operators of intensive pig rearing installations on how to meet the integrated pollution prevention and control requirements which the eponymous Directive (2008/1/EC) places upon them.

Farming: Pigs

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on the planned intensive pig farm in Foston, Derbyshire.

James Paice: We have received no recent representations on the planned intensive pig farm in Foston, Derbyshire.

Food

Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition of locally-sourced food her Department uses.

James Paice: DEFRA does not have a definition of locally-sourced food. This is because there are wide variations in what is considered to be local.
	A consumer survey commissioned by the Food Standards Agency and published in 2007 indicated that the term local is interpreted differently by UK consumers with some considering it a small geographic area (40 miles) and some considering it as food sourced from a wider area (e.g. county, region or country). A number of organisations have sought to define 'local food'. However these differ greatly in their criteria and on the size of geographic area considered local, making them unsuitable for an over arching definition for general use. Where it is used businesses should be able to explain what it means. If consumers have concerns about the origin of their food they can ask for details at the point of purchase.
	Finally, there are EU schemes which allow for the protection of certain food and drink products which carry the name of a geographical area and which owe their distinctive characteristics and reputation to the area in which they are produced. Scotch whisky is probably the best know of these protected names but others include Cornish clotted cream, Scotch beef and Melton Mowbray pork pies. It is our policy to actively encourage more UK applications under these schemes.

Food

Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the (a) economic, (b) environmental and (c) social value of sale and production of local food.

James Paice: We have not carried out a quantitative assessment of the value of local food. However, we have carried out some research on local foods which identified a commercial opportunity where value added through price premiums is available. The social and environmental value depends largely on the type of initiative—production system, added value and supply chain.
	Work on attitudes showed there is a growing demand for local and regional food although this does not always translate into buying behaviour.

Wind Farms

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of onshore wind farms on night-flying autumn migrant birds.

Gregory Barker: I have been asked to reply.
	A considerable amount of research has been undertaken, both within the UK and elsewhere, to determine the significance of any impacts of wind farms on wildlife. Data collected from a number of existing wind farms have indicated that, for the majority of locations, there is little or no evidence of a significant impact on birds. Careful site selection is important to avoid potentially significant impacts, and within the planning process environmental impact assessments are prepared for proposed wind farms. The RSPB has noted in its own reports that
	“the majority of studies indicated that (bird) collision mortality rates per turbine in the UK are low”
	and that
	“if wind farms are located away from major migration routes there is a strong possibility that they will have minimal impact on wildlife”.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

National Audit Office: Audit Commission

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission on what dates officials of the National Audit Office have dined on official business with representatives of the Audit Commission since 2007-08; in which restaurants; and at what cost to the public purse.

Edward Leigh: Officials of the National Audit Office have paid for meals with officials from the Audit Commission on three occasions since 2007-08:
	On 11 June 2007 Sir John Bourn, former Comptroller and Auditor General, hosted Steve Bundred, Chief Executive of the Audit Commission, for dinner at Wiltons at a cost of £199;
	On 15 January 2009, Gabrielle Cohen, Assistant Auditor General, had lunch with David Walker, MD Communications at the Audit Commission, at the Ebury Wine Bar at a cost of £41.40;
	On 2 February 2011, Amyas Morse, Comptroller and Auditor General, met with Eugene Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Audit Commission, for breakfast at the Mint Hotel at a cost of £19.90.
	Officials of the National Audit Office have dined with officials from the Audit Commission on six occasions since 2007-08 where the NAO did not pay:
	On 1 November 2007 Gabrielle Cohen, Assistant Auditor General had lunch with the then MD, Communications at the Audit Commission. Information on the location and cost is no longer available;
	On 3 December 2007 Sir John Bourn, Comptroller and Auditor General and Steve Bundred, Audit Commission Chief Executive dined at L'Escargot;
	On 5 May 2009 Amyas Morse, Comptroller and Auditor General, Steve Bundred, Audit Commission Chief Executive, and Michael O'Higgins, Chairman of the Audit Commission dined at Qurinale;
	On 14 September 2009 Gabrielle Cohen, Assistant Auditor General had lunch with David Walker, MD Communications at the Audit Commission at the Ebury Wine Bar;
	On 6 January 2010 Martin Sinclair, Assistant Auditor General, and the Managing Director Audit at the Audit Commission had lunch at the Rex Whistler Restaurant (we understand that this was at no cost to the public purse); and,
	On 7 April 2010 Gabrielle Cohen, Assistant Auditor General had lunch with David Walker, MD Communications at the Audit Commission, at the Footstool restaurant.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Olympic Games 2012

Jo Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that any grant by Bromley council of a time limited waiver to the terms of lease to Biggin Hill Airport Ltd to allow extended hours and additional flights during the period of the London 2012 Olympics does not set a precedent for future expansion of the airport.

Philip Hammond: In view of the anticipated number of international visitors expected to come to London for the games, and the demands this may place on aviation operations during the peak periods, we would encourage local authorities and others to give due consideration to any requests for flexibility on an exceptional basis around airport operating conditions during this period. However, so far as Biggin Hill airport is concerned, this is a matter for the London borough of Bromley, as the landlord of the airport, to decide.

Crossrail Line: Railway Signals

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects a European train control system with an automatic train operation signalling system to be in place on Crossrail by December 2018.

Theresa Villiers: A formal application for derogation in respect of signalling for the Central Operating Section of the Crossrail project has been made to the European Commission and is currently being considered by them.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much expenditure (a) his Department and (b) HS2 Ltd has incurred on the High Speed 2 programme, including on compensation payments, to date; and how much each expects to incur by the date of introduction of a Bill to enable the line.

Philip Hammond: HS2 Ltd spent £24.1 million (excluding VAT) between January 2009, when it was established, and the end of the 2010-11 financial year. In addition, the Department for Transport spent £9.6 million on property purchases under the exceptional hardship scheme up to the end of the 2010-11 financial year.
	The funding allocated as part of the comprehensive spending review for HS2 was:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Resource spending Capital spending 
			 2011-12 116.1 50 
			 2012-13 163.3 50 
			 2013-14 89.4 50 
			 2014-15 204.2 50

Level Crossings: Safety

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the name is of each level crossing which (a) has had and (b) will have additional safety features introduced as a result of the recommendations of the Office of Rail Regulation report on the fatalities at Elsenham in 2005; and by what date he expects all such installations to have been completed.

Theresa Villiers: Details of the specific level crossings to which safety recommendations from the Elsenham report can be applied, the nature of any changes and their installation dates, are an operational matter for Network Rail. The hon. Member may wish contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address:
	David Higgins
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	Kings Place
	90 York Way
	London, N1 9AG
	The Office of Rail Regulation, as the independent health and safety regulator of Britain's railways has a role in monitoring the progress of safety recommendations and that they are appropriately acted upon.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the availability of motor insurance to motorists over the age of 80.

Michael Penning: Any motorist irrespective of age must have statutory minimum third party insurance cover. Motor insurers are responsible for setting the terms and conditions of the policies that they offer and it is for them to decide the level of risk that they take in issuing a policy. A driver's age is one of the factors that insurers can take into account.
	We would not wish to introduce any measures that would discourage elderly drivers from obtaining insurance.

Public Transport

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the role of public transport, cycling and walking in promoting better health outcomes.

Norman Baker: holding answer 15 June 2011
	The Secretary of State has had no direct discussions with the Secretary of State for Health on this issue. However, I met with the Under-Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Guildford (Anne Milton), last September to discuss the role of active travel in promoting better health outcomes. This is discussed in Chapter 5 of the Local Transport White Paper: ‘Creating Growth, Cutting Carbon’, which we published in January this year. My officials also worked closely with the Department of Health and contributed to the White Paper: ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People’, published in November 2010.

Rail Delivery Group

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the Rail Delivery Group in each year of the comprehensive spending review period.

Theresa Villiers: The cost of the Rail Delivery Group is met jointly by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) and Network Rail (NR). There is no additional cost to the public purse.

Railways

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Final Independent Report of the Rail Value for Money Study, whether he plans to introduce periodic reviews on the efficiency and productivity of the railway system.

Theresa Villiers: Sir Roy McNulty's recommendation was that Government, in conjunction with the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) and industry, should review periodically the efficiency and productivity of the railway system as a whole. This recommendation, alongside others in Sir Roy's final report, will be considered in preparing both the Department for Transport's detailed policy statement on rail for November 2011, and our High Level Output Specification, which will be delivered by the end of July 2012.

Railways: Finance

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made on securing the derogations from EU interoperability regulations on European train control systems in respect of (a) the Crossrail project and (b) other rail projects.

Theresa Villiers: A formal application for derogation in respect of signalling for the Central Operating Section of the Crossrail project has been made to the European Commission and is currently being considered by them.
	There are currently no other applications for derogation in respect of signalling for other UK rail projects.

Railways: Finance

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to produce a measurable objective for cost reductions in the rail industry.

Theresa Villiers: The Government are now considering which of the recommendations in the rail value for money study it will take forward and on what timescale. That work will complement thinking on a wider package of reforms to secure a sustainable railway at lower cost that delivers a better deal for both taxpayer and fare-payer. A detailed strategy for the reform of the industry will be published in November.

Railways: Franchises

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of longer rail franchises on the quality of service offered by train operating companies to passengers.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 27 June 2011
	Discussions with rail operators have made clear that longer franchises are likely to increase the amount of investment and improvements to service quality that train operating companies can deliver during the franchise term.

Railways: Repairs and Maintenance

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the effect on rail maintenance costs of the suspension of engineering works on routes serving London 2012 Olympic venues between late June and early September 2012.

Theresa Villiers: The effect on rail maintenance costs of the suspension of engineering works on routes serving London 2012 Olympic venues is a matter for Network Rail to manage within the overall targets for costs and efficiency set by the Office of Rail Regulation.

Railways: Wales

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend the proposed high speed rail link to Wales; and what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on this subject.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 21 June 2011
	The Government's aspiration is for a truly national high speed network. While there are no detailed plans at this stage for any extension to Wales, subject to the outcome of the current consultation, the Government would consider options for further high speed links with other parts of the UK such as Wales as the network develops over time.
	The proposed first phase of the HS2 line will allow classic compatible trains to run at high speed from London to the west midlands and at conventional speed beyond. HS2 classic compatible trains running a high speed to Lichfield and then at conventional speed via Crewe could help significantly reduce journey times to Chester and North Wales from London.
	Ministers regularly meet with members of the Welsh Government to discuss a range of transport issues.

Rescue Services: Belfast

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many search and rescue operations were carried out from the Belfast Coastguard Station in each of the last five years; how many such operations were carried out during the hours of darkness; and (a) how long and (b) how many staff hours each such operation took.

Michael Penning: The number of incidents (including those categorised as alarm, distress and uncertainty) coordinated by Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Bangor from 2006 to date is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2006 460 
			 2007 469 
			 2008 444 
			 2009 572 
			 2010 654 
			 2011 to end of May 236 
		
	
	The number and type of incidents is available on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga07-home/shipsandcargoes/consultations/mcaa-consultations-archive/hm_coastguard_ proposals_for_modernisation_consultation_2010/statistics_requested.htm
	Detailed information for all years about the number and duration of operations conducted during hours of darkness (broadly between 1900-0700) cannot be gathered other than at disproportionate cost. However a manual interrogation of records in the time available shows that the number of operations during hours of darkness for 2009, 2010 and so far in 2011 was as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2009 160 
			 2010 237 
			 2011 to end of May 74 
		
	
	Information about staff hours is not recorded.

Rescue Services: Belfast

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many search and rescue operations from Belfast Coastguard Station involved co-operation with the Irish Coastguard (a) in each year since 2005 and (b) in 2011 to date.

Michael Penning: The number of search and rescue incidents that have involved co-operation with the Irish Coastguard in each year since 2005 is in the following table:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2005 14 
			 2006 27 
			 2007 31 
			 2008 38 
			 2009 54 
			 2010 50 
			 2011 to the end of May 19 
		
	
	These figures only include incidents where the Irish Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopters have been used.

Roads: Accidents

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local authorities he expects to publish (a) casualty rates on local roads and (b) speed camera information; and what information his Department holds on the date on which each such authority plans to do so.

Michael Penning: I expect each English local highway authority with active cameras outside London, plus Transport for London, to arrange for the publication of speed camera information, in order to enhance transparency and local accountability. Different local highway authorities may publish this material together, for example where they share the same police force.
	There is no requirement arising from the Department for Transport for local authorities to publish casualty rates on local roads. However they are able to do so. Both the Department and other organisations do publish material about the distribution of casualties between local areas.

Roads: Regulation

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 406W, on roads: regulation, which regulations (a) relate to and (b) do not relate to cyclists; and for what reason some road regulations do not affect all road users.

Norman Baker: The five regulations that specifically apply to cycling are:
	Cycle Racing on Highways Regulations 1960;
	Pedal Cycles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1983;
	Cycle Tacks Regulations 1984;
	Cycle Racing on Highways (Tour de France 1994) Regulations 1994; and
	Pedal Bicycles (Safety) Regulations 2010.
	There is another regulation which although not specifically related to bicycles could be included here: Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983.
	Even though the above specifically relate to cycling, we do expect cyclists and other road users, to abide by all general road and traffic regulations.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the section in his Department's Departmental Business Plan on speed camera data was changed in May 2011 from a commitment to working with local authorities to publish speed camera data to a commitment to issue guidance on how to publish such data.

Michael Penning: The change in wording reflects progress on this important commitment. A working group, including local authority representation, completed its work with us in April advising the Department for Transport about the data publication. The Department then undertook further work to enable guidance to be issued—hence the change in wording in May to the business plan's action.

Transport: EU Law

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the standards to be agreed in the Intelligent Transport Systems Directive.

Michael Penning: We will seek to ensure that development of Intelligent Transport Systems standards and specifications are consistent with the principles set out in Annex II of the Intelligent Transport Systems Directive (2010/40/EU).

Vehicle and Operator Service Agency: Northern Ireland

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles from Northern Ireland have been stopped by Vehicle and Operator Service Agency officials in England in each of the last three years.

Michael Penning: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) holds data on the number of safety checks it conducts, rather than the number of vehicles stopped. Each vehicle is often subject to more than one type of safety check. VOSA checked the following number of Northern Ireland vehicles in England in the last three years.
	
		
			  2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 
			 Mechanical checks 1,346 2,290 2,225 
			 Drivers hours and weighing checks 2,180 3,046 2,680

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many vehicles stopped by Vehicle and Operator Services Agency officials were found to have defects in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many vehicles were stopped by Vehicle and Operator Services Agency officials in each of the last three years.

Michael Penning: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) holds data on the number of safety checks it conducts, rather than the number of vehicles stopped. Each vehicle is often subject to more than one type of safety check. The following table shows the number of checks and defects VOSA carried out in the last three years:
	
		
			  2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 
			  Number Defects Number Defects Number Defects 
			 Mechanical checks 148,869 52,808 157,005 59,944 131,475 53,944 
			 Drivers hours and weighing checks 142,221 28,097 160,442 38,703 121,509 35,981

West Coast Railway Line

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made on the potential effect of high speed rail on the capacity of the (a) West and (b) East Coast main lines.

Philip Hammond: A national high speed rail network serving Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and London would release considerable capacity on the existing network for additional services.
	As well as enabling the provision of up to 14 high speed services an hour into London, the first phase of High Speed 2 (HS2) alone (the London-West Midlands line) would release sufficient capacity through the transfer of long distance services to enable more than 160 new services a day on the existing West Coast Main Line. The illustrative service specification drawn up by HS2 Ltd indicates that train frequencies could almost double at some towns—providing thousands of extra seats, along with more reliable, quicker, more frequent and less crowded trains for commuters during rush hour.
	Some of the largest increases in service levels could be seen in towns such as Milton Keynes (potentially almost 90% increase in services), Northampton (46%) and Tamworth and Lichfield Trent Valley (80% each).
	The second phase of HS2 (the proposed branches to Leeds and Manchester) would see these benefits spread to the East Coast and Midland Main Lines. Work on released capacity on these lines will be undertaken as part of HS2 Ltd's ongoing work on route options for Phase 2 of the network.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

British Nationality

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support and assistance his Department provides for UK nationals with dual citizenship when in the country of their other citizenship; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office would not normally offer consular support to a dual British national in the country of their other nationality, or get involved in dealings between a dual national and the authorities of that state. We may make an exception to this rule if, having looked at the circumstances of the case, we consider that there is a special humanitarian reason to do so. These circumstances might include cases involving minors, forced marriages or an offence which carries the death penalty. However, the help we can provide will depend on the individual's circumstances and the authorities in the state of their other nationality agreeing to this.
	This is explained in our publication “Support for British nationals abroad", which is available on our website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/publications

China: Diplomatic Service

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the statement of 11 May 2011, Official Report, columns 1165-8, on the future diplomatic network, what the (a) purpose and (b) duties are of the new diplomatic posts in China; and whether any such posts will be dedicated to monitoring human rights in China and Tibet.

Jeremy Browne: Following the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague)'s oral statement to the House on 11 May 2011, Official Report, columns 1165-8, we are working to put in place the announced increase in frontline staff in our China network.
	The additional officials (up to 50) will include both UK based and locally engaged staff. They will be deployed to reinforce our existing network in China, and to strengthen our engagement with the regions and cities outside those where we have our embassy and consulates.
	All our missions in China monitor and raise human rights with host countries, as do all our missions overseas.

China: Diplomatic Service

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider the merits of recruiting a desk officer with responsibility for monitoring Tibet as part of his new diplomatic frontline staff for China.

Jeremy Browne: Our embassy in Beijing and our consulate in Chongqing already have officers whose job description includes responsibility for monitoring developments in Tibet. These teams are among those that will be reinforced as part of the planned increase in frontline staff.

China: Tibet

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the government of China to withdraw its armed forces from the monastery and town of Ngaba, Tibet, release all those detained and allow access to the monastery and region for international observers and journalists; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: We are deeply concerned by reports of violence at the Kirti Monastery in a Tibetan area of Sichuan Province. We have raised these concerns both with the Chinese embassy in London and with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, asking for information and calling for restraint. I wrote to the Chinese ambassador on 3 May 2011 raising my concerns at recent human rights developments in China, including the situation at Kirti Monastery.
	At the 17th session of the UN Human Rights Council on 16 June 2011, the EU statement called on the Chinese authorities to refrain from the use of force in dealing with the situation at the Kirti monastery, and to allow independent observers to the site. Officials in our embassy in Beijing and in our consulate in Chongqing will continue to press for access to Tibet and Tibetan regions.
	We remain committed to engagement with China on human rights. Long term stability in Tibet can only be achieved through respect for human rights and genuine autonomy for Tibet within the framework of the Chinese constitution. We believe that meaningful dialogue between the Dalai Lama's representatives and the Chinese authorities is the best way to make this happen.

Corporal Gilad Shalit: Prisoners' Release

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to press for the immediate release of Corporal Gilad Shalit; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We regularly hold discussions through our embassy in Tel Aviv about the release of Gilad Shalit with other EU and UN partners. Most recently, HMA Tel Aviv met with Gilad Shalit's family on 20 June. We continue to call for Hamas to release Gilad Shalit unconditionally. We consider it unacceptable that the International Committee of the Red Cross is denied access to him. It is unacceptable that he has been held for five years without any Red Cross access.
	On the Fifth anniversary of his capture the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) released a statement and I released a video message calling for Shalit's immediate and unconditional release.

Cyprus: British Nationals Abroad

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department provides to British citizens who own property in the north of Cyprus on the Immoveable Property Commission; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: The British High Commission's website:
	www.ukincyprus.fco.gov.uk
	highlights several options open to British citizens who are experiencing property problems. We have not given specific advice to British Citizens on the Immovable Property Commission. As we make clear on the site, we cannot intervene in private legal disputes or give legal guidance. We encourage anyone with a property problem to seek independent legal advice.

EU Institutions: Secondment

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in the (a) European Parliament and (b) European Commission were seconded from Civil Service organisations in (i) Great Britain and (ii) Northern Ireland on the latest date for which figures are available.

David Lidington: The Northern Ireland Department for Enterprise, Trade and Industry (DETINI) has one secondee with the EU Commission.
	The rest of the UK civil service has currently seconded:
	89 members of staff to the EU Commission
	two members of staff to the European Parliament
	These figures are valid as of 15 June 2011.

Gilad Shalit

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what progress he has made in efforts to secure the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit;
	(2)  what steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to seek to ensure access for the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit Corporal Gilad Shalit; and if he will make a statement.

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the captivity of Corporal Gilad Shalit;
	(2)  what recent reports he has received on the condition of Corporal Gilad Shalit.

Alistair Burt: We regularly hold discussions through our embassy in Tel Aviv about the release of Gilad Shalit with other EU and UN partners. Most recently, HMA Tel Aviv met with Gilad Shalit's family on 20 June. We continue to call for Hamas to release Gilad Shalit unconditionally. We consider it unacceptable that the International Committee of the Red Cross is denied access to him. It is unacceptable that he has been held for five years without any Red Cross access.
	On the fifth anniversary of his capture the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), released a statement and I released a video message calling for Shalit's immediate and unconditional release.

India: Prisoners

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Indian government on Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar.

Jeremy Browne: I wrote to the Indian high commissioner on 20 June, reiterating the UK Government's strong opposition to the death penalty and urging the Government of India to reconsider Mr Bhullar's sentence. We continue to urge the Government of India to establish a formal moratorium as a first step towards the abolition of the death penalty in India.

India: Prosecutions

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the Indian government on prosecutions of the perpetrators of the killing of Sikhs in that country in 1984.

Jeremy Browne: The Government have not had any discussions with the Indian Government on this matter. However, we maintain a dialogue with Indian officials about minority rights issues generally in India, including with regards to the Sikh community.

Israel: Prisoners

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the renewal of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on a potential prisoner swap.

Alistair Burt: We are aware that there has been much press speculation about the possibility of a potential prisoner swap, however, we have not received any official reports on this.
	The UK has long called for Gilad Shalit's immediate and unconditional release. We continue to do so. On the fifth anniversary of his capture last week, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), issued a statement and I released a video message calling for Shalit's immediate and unconditional release. It is despicable that, five years on, he should still be held in denial of the most basic of human rights.

North Africa: Democracy

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the role of the EU in supporting emerging democracies in north Africa and the middle east.

David Lidington: The European Neighbourhood Policy Review Communication was issued on 25 May. It is an ambitious offer to our reforming neighbours in north Africa and more widely: a new partnership with the EU based on greater economic integration, trade and increased funding for the southern neighbourhood of €750 million. It makes a clear link between levels of EU support and progress on political and economic reform.

Palestinians: Politics and Government

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking at the UN to support (a) free and democratic elections for the Palestinian Authority and (b) the establishment of the (i) right of free speech and (ii) rule of law in the area controlled by the Palestinian Authority; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We continue to await the formation of the Palestinian Government, but as the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) set out to the House on 7 June the new Palestinian Authority should be formed of independent figures on the basis that President Abbas set out on 4 May. It should continue to uphold the principles of non-violence, be committed to a negotiated solution, and accept previous agreements of the PLO. We also expect a future Palestinian Government to continue to uphold basic human rights principles, such as freedom of speech and the rule of law. The UK will judge a future Palestinian Government by its actions and its readiness to work for peace.
	As I made clear in my statement of 16 February 2011, the UK welcomed the announcement by the Palestine Liberation Organization that it will hold national elections by September for all Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza. We, together with our EU partners, stand ready to support the electoral process.

Tibet: Politics and Government

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Tibetan government-in-exile on its recent election of a new leader.

Jeremy Browne: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) has had no discussions with representatives of the Tibetan Government-in-exile on its recent election of a new leader.
	Since 1980 the UK has not accorded recognition to Governments; we only accord recognition to states.

Tibet: Politics and Government

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the level of religious freedom in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China.

Jeremy Browne: As highlighted in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Human Rights Command Paper 2010, we remain deeply concerned about the level of religious freedom in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. We are particularly concerned about the restrictions placed on a number of monks and nuns by the Chinese Government, which restrict their access to religious institutions and interfere with their religious practice through “patriotic education campaigns”.
	We are concerned by recent reports of unrest at the Tibetan Buddhist Kirti Monastery in Sichuan Province. We have raised our concerns with both the Chinese embassy in London and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, asking for information and calling for restraint. I wrote to the Chinese ambassador on 3 May, raising my concerns about recent human rights developments, including the situation at Kirti Monastery.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of developing an integrated network of local support services to help parents make maintenance arrangements on separation.

Maria Miller: The proposals set out in the Green Paper “Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance” seek to encourage and support parents to recognise their ongoing responsibilities following separation, and to work together to make arrangements for maintenance that are in the best interests of their children. Enabling parents to access the support already available, both through Government-provided services and through the services offered by the voluntary and community sector, is absolutely central to our proposals.
	Alongside our discussions with the voluntary and community sector about how best to facilitate the integration of support, we are working principally with the Department for Education and the Ministry of Justice to build the evidence base on what support works for different families. We need to understand how to target resources more efficiently to facilitate a more cost-effective and sustainable approach to supporting parents early in the process. We are also working with the devolved administrations, where family support is a devolved matter. Once we know which forms of support are most effective for different families we will be able to make sure resources are being used to best effect.
	The Department for Education is already investing £30 million in relationship support services over the next four years, including their grants funding voluntary and community sector organisations to support separating couples. DWP currently spends around £5.6 million a year on information and support provided through the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	We will continue working with Department for Education and the Ministry of Justice—in the wider context of the independently-chaired Family Justice Review—to ensure our plans are as co-ordinated and coherent as possible.
	The Government plans to publish their response to the Green Paper consultation shortly.

Departmental Allowances

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what expenses were claimed by (a) paid and (b) unpaid special advisers working in his Department in the last 12 months.

Chris Grayling: The following table details expenses paid to this Department’s special advisers during the period May 2010 to March 2011. Please note that there are no unpaid special advisers employed in Government.
	
		
			 Travel expenditure May 2009 to March 2010 (£) May 2010 to March 2011 (£) Percentage reduction 
			 Rail costs 1,102 689.08 37 
			 Air costs 8,214 277 96 
			 Taxi costs 0 37.00 — 
			 Hotel costs 652.90 79.00 87 
			 Total 9316.00 1,082.08 88

Employment and Support Allowance

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce the length of time taken between the submission of an appeal on the refusal or withdrawal of (a) employment and support allowance and (b) disability living allowance and the date of the hearing.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions is working closely with the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service to improve the clearance times for all social security and child support appeals.
	Jobcentre Plus and the Pensions Disability and Carers Service are taking steps to improve the quality of initial decision-making and to improve the processes for reconsidering decisions before appeal so that all the relevant evidence can be obtained, and errors can be corrected and disputes resolved, at an early stage without the need for an appeal hearing.
	The power in the Welfare Reform Bill to require claimants to apply for a decision to be revised before they are able to appeal to the tribunal should also enable more disputes to be resolved through the internal reconsideration process.
	At the same time Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has responded strongly to the high level of appeals, which has led to increased waiting times for a hearing. HMCTS has significantly increased its capacity and 38% more social security and child support appeals were cleared in April 2011 compared to April 2010 (and 65% when compared to April 2009)1. It is continuing to increase its capacity through the recruitment of additional staff and judicial medical tribunal members as well as through a range of business improvements. As HMCTS continues to bring additional resources on line, the outstanding caseload is expected to continue to fall, reducing waiting times for tribunal hearings.
	Source
	HMCTS nationally published management information

Employment and Support Allowance: Work Capability Assessment

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2011, Official Report, column 824W, on Work Capability Assessment: mental health, whether the phase of an applicant's medication cycle is taken into account during an assessment.

Chris Grayling: The medication that a claimant is receiving is one of the factors that a health care professional takes into account during a face to face assessment.

Housing Benefit

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people in Bristol who will be restricted to the housing benefit shared accommodation rate if the age threshold is increased to 35; and what assessment he has made of the availability of low-priced shared accommodation for such people.

Steve Webb: Based on analysis of the local housing allowance case load in March 2010, it is estimated that 770 claimants in Bristol would have their local housing allowance reduced to the shared accommodation rate due to the extension of the age threshold to 35. The extent to which this will affect the availability of shared accommodation will depend on how claimants and landlords respond to this reduced entitlement.
	No recent assessment has been made of the supply of shared accommodation in Bristol.
	Not all of the affected claimants will necessarily seek to move into shared accommodation, and some landlords may respond to any shift in demand by making more properties available on a shared basis.
	Source:
	Equality impact assessment of the increase to the shared accommodation rate age threshold, available on the DWP website at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-hb-shared-accommodation-age-threshold.pdf

Jobcentre Plus

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has (a) commissioned or (b) evaluated any research on the perceptions of Jobcentre Plus users of the support available from Jobcentre Plus for those wanting to (i) become self-employed and (ii) start a business.

Chris Grayling: The Department has published qualitative and quantitative evaluation reports on support available to claimants of jobseekers allowance (JSA) under the Six Month Offer, which was available from April 2009 to March 2011. These include sections on the support available to eligible JSA claimants who were interested in self-employment. The reports are available to download from the Research Report Series section of the DWP website (report numbers 691 and 699).
	A longitudinal survey on the longer term outcomes and experiences of claimants who accessed support under the Six Month Offer has been undertaken and is scheduled to be published in August 2011. An initial impact analysis report on the Six Month Offer is planned for late 2011 or early 2012 dependent on data supply and subsequent quality assurance. Later in 2012 there will be a final report on the impact analysis.

Jobcentre Plus: Scotland

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what face-to-face client services are provided at Jobcentre Plus centres in (a) Ayr, (b) Arbroath and (c) Clydebank.

Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Darra Singh
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what face-to-face client services are provided at Jobcentre Plus centres in (a) Ayr (b) Arbroath and (c) Clydebank. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated tome as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Our Jobcentres in Ayr, Arbroath and Clydebank all provide the full range of face-to-face customer services. These include:
	helping people find work using personal adviser support. Advisers assess and tailor the amount of support an individual needs through adviser interviews and using local provision;
	conducting Fortnightly Jobsearch Reviews, where we discuss job search and ensure people remain entitled to benefit by being available for and actively seeking work;
	engaging in local partnerships, enabling the private, public and voluntary sectors to bring their expertise in helping individuals find work. We tailor our services to help people gain the support and skills training they need to move from benefits into work;
	providing extra support through, for example, the 'Get Britain Working' measures and help for those engaging with us for the first time;
	providing advice on the range of benefits available and explaining the conditions for receiving them, helping to prevent fraud and prevent people claiming more benefits than they are entitled to; and
	making payments or loans from the Social Fund when individuals need additional financial support.
	The closure of the contact centres will not affect face to face services and face to face centres are unaffected. The rationalisation of Jobcentre Plus offices can be completed without impacting on the service offered to customers. The contact centre network is virtual, meaning that calls are routed to the next available agent no matter where they are in the country. Similarly, customers do not actually have direct contact with benefit processing sites - benefit enquiry telephone calls are dealt with in the contact centre network.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many rapid reclaims for jobseeker's allowance were made in the last five years because the claimant had gone abroad for a short period.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available. The reasons for repeat claims are not collated centrally.

Members: Correspondence

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to reply to the letter of (a) 14 September 2010 and (b) 17 March 2011 from the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling on behalf of his constituents, Mr and Mrs Green.

Chris Grayling: In respect of his letter of 14 September 2010, a reply was sent to my right hon. Friend on 27 September 2010.
	Despite an extensive search, I am afraid the Department has no trace of the letter of 17 March 2011. If my right hon. Friend would send a copy, I will arrange for a reply to be sent as a matter of urgency.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to reply to the letter of 12 May 2011 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms S Prior.

Chris Grayling: A reply was sent to the right hon. Member on 25 May 2011.

Older Workers

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of levels of discrimination against older people in (a) recruitment and (b) the workplace.

Chris Grayling: Levels of age discrimination in recruitment and the workplace are difficult to assess because discriminatory policies and practices can be hidden rather than being overt.
	However the Department has undertaken a range of research to identify whether age discrimination does occur and, if so, its potential causes. Most comprehensively have been two large Surveys of Employers Policies, Practices and Preferences Relating to Age. The surveys were undertaken in 2006 and 2010 and are based on a sample of approximately 2,000 employers. The subsequent reports provide detail on a range of employment equal opportunity and recruitment practices. The reports are available on:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2005-2006/rrep325.pdf
	and
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2009-2010/rrep682.pdf

Pathways to Work

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the months of reduced specialist service between the closure of the Pathways to Work programme and the commencement of the Work programme will contribute to the period for which those entitled to claim may claim contributory employment and support allowance once the changes scheduled for April 2012 are implemented; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: There has been no reduction of specialist support to help people with disabilities and health conditions move into employment. In April 2011 the Department put in place a new Jobcentre Plus based support regime for those with health conditions and disabilities, including those in receipt of incapacity benefits. This offered a much more flexible, tailored approach to support based on individual needs, not the rigid system of work focused interviews delivered through Pathways to Work. In the transition to the Work programme, the Department worked hard to ensure there were no gaps in provision. Now that the programme is live, people are receiving the more intensive, personalised support it offers.
	The introduction of a one-year time-limit for people receiving contributory employment and support allowance in the Work Related Activity Group is scheduled for implementation in April 2012. For those claimants in the work related activity group, time already spent on contributory employment and support allowance before the change is introduced will count towards the 365 day time limit. This is not affected by the level of support that was available to claimants through Pathways to Work or that is now available through the Work programme.

Personal Care Services: Industrial Health and Safety

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what legislation currently regulates the operation of (a) nail bars and (b) beauty salons; what changes have been made to such legislation since its enactment; whether any changes are planned in the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The principal legislation applying to nail bars and hair salons is the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This places duties on operators of nail bars and hair salons to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees and ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that customers are not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
	The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002 also place a duty on operators to prevent or control the exposure of their employees to hazardous substances including hazardous chemicals and micro-organisms. They also have a duty to prevent or control, so far as is reasonably practicable, exposure of customers to such substances.
	There have been some amendments to this legislation since its original enactment although none which apply specifically or exclusively to nail bars or beauty salons.
	There are no plans to introduce new health and safety legislation for nail bars or beauty salons.

Personal Care Services: Industrial Health and Safety

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the potential health risks of (a) (i) inhalation of and (ii) skin contact with (A) solvents, (B) lacquers and (C) acrylic polymers and (b) other activities undertaken during nail enhancement work; what guidance (1) his Department and (2) the Health and Safety Executive issue to nail salons and beauty salons about the use and safety of chemicals; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been aware for some time of the potential health risks to employees and customers from exposure to hazardous substances including chemicals and dust during nail enhancement work. HSE is also aware that nail technicians may experience musculoskeletal problems as a result of maintaining awkward working postures and performing highly repetitive tasks.
	This was confirmed by recent research conducted by the Health and Safety Laboratory on behalf of HSE which surveyed practices and reported on health effects within the sector.
	Operators of nail bars and beauty salons have a duty to assess these risks and take reasonably practicable measures to prevent or control them. To assist them in this, HSE has published guidance which sets out sensible and proportionate measures, which can be taken, to control both the risk of exposure to hazardous substances and of staff developing musculoskeletal disorders as a result of their work.
	This guidance is freely downloadable from the HSE website.

Personal Care Services: Industrial Health and Safety

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward regulations to require (a) nail bars and (b) hair salons to ensure that nail tools are cleaned in between every use; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: The existing Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002, place a duty on operators of nail bars and hair salons to prevent or control the exposure of their employees to hazardous substances including microbiological organisms. Operators also have a duty to prevent or control, so far as is reasonably practicable, exposure of their customers, to such substances.
	The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises that reusable equipment which comes into contact with the body should be decontaminated between clients. Nail tools would fall in to this category. This is a key way to prevent cross contamination of pathogens.

Social Security Benefits

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each five-year age group from 65 upwards receive (a) attendance allowance, (b) disability living allowance including the higher rate mobility component, (c) disability living allowance including the lower rate mobility component and (d) disability living allowance including only the care component; and what estimates his Department has made of the change in such figures consequent upon each planned increase in pension age.

Maria Miller: Tables 1 to 3, as follows, show the number of people in each five-year age group from the age of 65 upwards who received (a) attendance allowance, (b) disability living allowance by care award type, (c) disability living allowance by mobility award type in November 2010. Notes on all three tables are located in table 3.
	
		
			 Table 1: Attendance allowance—cases in payment by age and award type: November 2010 
			 Age Total Higher rate Lower rate Nil rate 
			 65 and over 1,626,910 925,200 701,710 — 
			 65 to 69 55,170 31,930 23,240 — 
			 70 to 74 178,150 102,750 75,400 — 
			 75 to 79 303,020 173,590 129,430 — 
			 80 to 84 416,750 235,430 181,320 — 
			 85 to 89 404,390 225,820 178,570 — 
			 90 and over 269,390 155,670 113,720 — 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Disability living allowance—cases in payment by age and care award type: November 2010 
			 Age Total Higher rate Middle rate Lower rate Nil rate 
			 65 to 69 351,350 75,230 91,920 113,730 70,470 
			 70 to 74 257,960 59,690 69,710 67,750 60,800 
			 75 to 79 154,490 41,180 42,520 28,190 42,600 
			 80 to 84 63,370 19,220 18,290 5,800 20,060 
			 85 to 89 12,900 3,280 3,100 30 6,490 
			 90 and over 1,890 450 440 — 990 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 3: Disability living allowance—cases in payment by age and mobility award type: November 2010 
			 Age Total Higher rate Lower rate Nil rate 
			 65 to 69 351,350 273,840 42,600 34,910 
			 70 to 74 257,960 208,740 24,800 24,410 
			 75 to 79 154,490 130,170 12,230 12,090 
			 80 to 84 63,370 56,100 4,010 3,270 
			 85 to 89 12,900 12,880 10 10 
			 90 and over 1,890 1,880 — — 
			 “—” Denotes nil or negligible. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 3. Figures are published at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=tabtool Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study, 100% data 
		
	
	Amendments to the Pensions Act 1995 made by the Pensions Act 2007 and through provisions in the current Pensions Bill will align the age limits for disability living allowance and attendance allowance with the state pension age from the date those changes take effect. This change will also be reflected in the qualifying criteria for personal independence payment and the consequence of those changes is that more people will be able to claim and receive personal independence payment and continue receipt of that benefit through beyond state pension age if they continue to satisfy the conditions of entitlement.
	Table 4 shows the estimates of the impacts of the change in the state pension age (SPA) from 65 to 66 for both men and women between December 2018 and April 2020 in each financial year up to 2025-26 on the attendance allowance caseload. The impacts presented here were included in the overall impacts presented in Annex A of the Pensions Bill 2011 Impact Assessment(1).
	(1) Note:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/pensions-bill-2011-ia-annexa.pdf
	Estimates of the change in the SPA from 66 to 67 between 2034 and 2036 and 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046 are not provided, as forecasts do not extend that far into the future. Estimates of the impact of subsequent rises to 67 and 68 will be available after the OBR publish their Fiscal Sustainability Report on 13 July, and this may mean revisions to figures included here.
	The design of personal independence payment is currently being developed and tested. Part of this testing will include longer term projections for the personal independence payment caseload and these will reflect changes to the state pension age.
	
		
			 Table 4: The change in the number of individuals aged 65 and over receiving the benefit as a result of the change in state pension age from 65 to 66 between December 2018 and April 2020 
			 Thousand 
			 Financial year AA 
			 2018-19 -1 
			 2019-20 -4 
			 2020-21 -8 
			 2021-22 -13 
			 2022-23 -18 
			 2023-24 -23 
			 2024-25 -25 
			 2025-26 -24 
			 Notes: 1. Following the increase in state pension age, it is assumed that the proportion of the population taking up AA at the new qualifying age is equivalent to that taking it up at the previous (lower) qualifying age. Thus if x% of those aged 64 are projected to claim AA when the state pension age was 65, when the latter rises to 66, x% of those aged 65 are assumed to claim AA. Since these individuals would continue to claim the benefit after reaching the new SPA, the impact on caseload of an increase in the qualifying age is likely to increase over time. 2. Estimates relate only to the period up to 2025-26, as this is also the end of the Impact Assessment period. 3. A positive number means an increase in the caseload and a negative number a decrease in projected caseload for the particular year. Source: DWP analysis

Social Security Benefits

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many active benefit claimants claim (a) only jobseeker's allowance, (b) only employment and support allowance in the work-related activity group, (c) housing benefit in addition to an active benefit and (d) council tax benefit in addition to an active benefit.

Chris Grayling: The information requested in respect of parts (b), (c) and (d) is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The information we do have to answer part (a) on claimants receiving jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) only, is shown in the following table.
	We have also included in the tables further information that we can provide. Although this does not give a full answer to parts (b), (c) or (d) it does show the total number of employment and support allowance (ESA) cases only and in addition the number of housing benefit/council tax benefit (HB/CTB) recipients receiving JSA (income based).
	
		
			 Working age client group for jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) and employment support allowance ESA only—November 2010 
			  Number 
			 JSA only 1,294,280 
			 ESA only 431,720 
			 Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest ten; some additional disclosure control has also been supplied. 2. State pension age: The age at which women reach state pension age will gradually increase from 60 to 65 between April 2010 and April 2020. This will introduce a small increase to the number of working age benefit recipients and a small reduction to the number of pension age recipients. Figures from May 2010 onwards reflect this change. For more information see http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/espa.pdf 3. These figures are of claimants receiving JSA or ESA and no other key DWP benefit (not including HB/CTB). 4. The data included in the table is available from the Department's tabulation tool at http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=tabtool Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. 
		
	
	
		
			 Housing benefit and council tax benefit claimants in receipt of JSA (IB)—March 2011 
			  Housing benefit Council tax benefit 
			 In receipt of JSA (IB) 611,710 605,230 
			 Notes: 1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple 2. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 3. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data is available monthly from November 2008 and March 2011 is the most recent available. 4. We have taken active benefit to be jobseeker’s allowance. 5. The data included in the table is available from the Department's tabulation tool at http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=tabtool Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE)

Universal Credit

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what options he is considering for the administration of free school meals entitlement through the proposed universal credit; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: Defining entitlement to certain passported benefits is the responsibility of other Government Departments and devolved Administrations. Free school meals are the responsibility of Department for Education.
	The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) have been commissioned to carry out an independent review on passported benefits on behalf of the Government and will present advice in a non-binding report by the end of January 2012.
	SSAC have launched a public consultation looking at passported benefits and this can be found on the SSAC website:
	http://ssac.independent.gov.uk/consult.shtml

Work Capability Assessment: Appeals

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many work capability assessments received zero points on initial assessment and were passed on appeal in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people received between zero and six points in a work capability assessment and were passed on appeal in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: Decisions on entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA) rest solely with the Department's decision-makers who take into account the medical assessment reports from Atos and any other relevant information.
	At the work capability assessment (WCA), a claimant's physical function and mental, cognitive and intellectual function is assessed. Within these categories there are a series of descriptors, scoring between 0 and 15 points. Claimants scoring 15 points in any category or combination of categories will be assessed as having a limited capability for work and placed in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG).
	If a claimant appeals against a fit for work decision at initial assessment and the appeal subsequently finds in favour of the appellant, this does not necessarily mean that the original decision was incorrect. In many cases new or additional evidence is provided to the tribunal which was not available to the decision-maker, or the tribunal weighs the evidence differently.
	The following table presents the points scored and appeal outcomes for ESA claims received between October 2008 and February 2010, who were found fit for work at the initial WCA and subsequently appealed the decision. Figures are only available for appeals that have been completed and not those that are currently under way.
	
		
			 Points scored at initial WCA, for claims found fit for work where an appeal has been heard by the Tribunals Service 
			 Points scored at initial WCA Claims found fit for work at initial WCA Appeals finding in favour of claimant Appeals upholding DWP decision All appeals heard 
			 0 points 246,700 29,000 56,100 85,000 
			 Between 0 and 6 points 57,000 11,100 12,500 23,600 
			 Over 6 points 25,500 7,600 4,300 11,900 
			 Unknown 6,800 400 1,600 2,000 
			 Total 335,900 48,000 74,400 122,500 
		
	
	The data presented above come from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions, functional assessment data from Atos Healthcare and appeals data from the Tribunals Service. The “unknown” category refers to claims where no assessment data are recorded—this may be because the WCA was performed clerically. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. Appeals data are only available for claims starting up to February 2010.
	The above data are consistent with that published in the recent official statistics report: ‘Employment and Support Allowance: Work Capability Assessment By Health Condition and Functional Impairment’. This report is available on the departmental website at the following link:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca/index.php?page=esa_wca_arc

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

EU Law

Julian Smith: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 the Government Equalities Office is responsible; and what European directives for which the Government Equalities Office is responsible have come into force since 1 April 2010.

Lynne Featherstone: As of 1 April 2011, the Government Equalities Office has been part of the Home Office and is no longer a separate Government Department. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer from the Minister for Crime and Security, the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (James Brokenshire), on 27 June 2011, Official Report, columns 579-81W.

Parental Leave

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of the effects on women workers of implementation of proposed reforms of parental leave.

Edward Davey: I have been asked to reply.
	The Modern Workplaces consultation sets out proposals for a new system of flexible parental leave which will protect mothers' rights while giving families more choice and flexibility over how they can share their work and caring responsibilities. The proposals mean that working mothers will be better able to keep in touch with their employer, and we believe they will also aid career progression for working mothers and help to tackle pregnancy discrimination.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Public Expenditure

John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost to the public purse was of his private office in May (a) 2010 and (b) 2011.

Nicholas Clegg: My private office consisting of private secretaries, special advisers and support staff, was formed following the creation of the Government in May 2010. Since this was partway through the month, figures for the month of May 2010 are not available.
	The total cost of my private office in May 2011 is estimated to be £111,568.93.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will withdraw RAF fixed wing aircraft and associated RAF manpower from Afghanistan.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 27 June 2011
	RAF fixed wing aircraft and their crews make an important contribution to the international effort in Afghanistan. We will continue to keep our force levels and deployed capabilities under review.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF fixed wing aircraft are in Afghanistan; and how many personnel by rank and duty are deployed on the operation.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 27 June 2011
	The UK fixed-wing manned aircraft currently based in Afghanistan are the GR4 Tornado and the C-130 Hercules. There are currently eight UK Tornado GR4 aircraft and three UK C-130 Hercules deployed in Afghanistan.
	The precise number of personnel overseas fluctuates on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including mid-tour rest and recuperation, temporary absence for training, the roulement of forces, and a range of other factors. We do not, therefore, publish actual figures for personnel deployed.

Air Force

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received from the Commander in Chief Air Command on the RAF's capacity to meet its operational tasks now and in the future;
	(2)  what recent representations he has received from the First Sea Lord on the Royal Navy's capacity to meet its operational tasks now and in the future.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 27 June 2011
	The Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox) and I have frequent dialogue with senior armed forces personnel regarding the services’ capacity to meet current and future tasks.

Air Force Board: Public Appointments

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who the members are of the Air Force Board.

Andrew Robathan: The Air Force Board comprises:
	Secretary of State for Defence (Chairman)
	Minister of State for the Armed Forces
	Minister for International Security Strategy
	Minister of State for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology
	Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans
	Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence
	Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)
	2nd Permanent Secretary (2nd PUS) (Secretary)
	Commander-in-Chief Air Command
	Air Member for Personnel (Deputy Commander-in-Chief Personnel)
	Air Member for Materiel (Chief of Materiel (Air))
	Air Member for Equipment Capability (Director (Information Superiority))
	Assistant Chief of the Air Staff.
	Meetings of the Air Force Board also include two non-executive directors drawn from outside the Department and will take place as required, but with at least one meeting annually.

Air Force

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the purpose is of the Future Combat Air Capability study; and when he expects it to report.

Peter Luff: The Future Combat Air Capability study is a rolling programme of analysis that will be used to inform both current planning activity and future strategic defence reviews. Its purpose is to explore, within the current policy context, the most cost-effective mix of current and future airborne platforms to meet the Department's future force requirements. For example, output from the study was used to inform the strategic defence and security review in 2010.

Air Force

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of (a) the task of recovering carrier aviation capability to support non-short take off and vertical landing fixed-wing aircraft and (b) the complexity of forming a joint Royal Navy and RAF force for this purpose.

Peter Luff: holding answer 27 June 2011
	We plan to regenerate a carrier strike capability from around 2020, based upon an operational Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier fitted with catapults and arrester gear and the F35C joint strike fighter.
	The joint strike fighter fleet will be jointly maimed by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy in a similar way to the jointly manned Harrier Force. Navy and Air Commands are developing plans to sustain and then re-grow the skills and experience required to regenerate carrier strike capability. The transition plan includes a full analysis of all of the roles involved in delivering the new capability and a plan to deliver trained personnel to fill those posts in time to meet the introduction to service schedule.
	The move to the F35-C (carrier variant) joint combat aircraft and the associated modifications to the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier will provide the UK with a world class capability in the decades to come.

Air Force: Ammunition

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the Royal Air Force's level of munitions reserves; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: Royal Air Force munitions reserves are kept under constant review by a stock-pile steering group to ensure continuing security of supply; there are sufficient stockholdings to meet anticipated operational demand.

Air Force: Manpower

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the duties of an Aerospace Battle Manager are; how many people are serving in such posts; at what ranks; and how many are deployed on operations.

Nick Harvey: The duties of the Aerospace Battle Manager encompass the provision of air surveillance, air weapons control and space surveillance tasks. These include the monitoring of airspace to determine the identify of unknown aircraft, control and co-ordination of air defence and support aircraft for air policing and combat missions, detection and warning of ballistic missile launches and the provision of air and space surveillance data to Navy and Army commanders.
	The number of Aerospace Battle Managers by rank in the branch as at 1 May 2011 is as follows:
	
		
			 Rank Number of Aerospace Battle Managers 
			 Air Commodore 2 
			 Group Captain 8 
			 Wing Commander 57 
			 Squadron Leader 111 
			 Flight Lieutenant 149 
			 Flying Officer 62 
			 Pilot Officer 30 
		
	
	The number of Aerospace Battle Managers currently deployed on operations in the UK is 165 personnel and those outside of the UK, including the Falkland Islands, is 27 personnel.

Air Force: Recruitment

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding was allocated to the RAF for recruitment purposes in each category of expenditure in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 27 June 2011
	Funding for RAF recruitment in the years requested is as follows:
	
		
			 £ million 
			 RAF recruitment costs categories Actual spend financial year 2010  -11 Forecast spend financial year 2011-12 
			 Manpower 22.161 15.696 
			 Marketing 3.189 7.918 
			 Armed forces careers offices 1.624 1.764 
			 Other costs (including sponsorships, travel and subsistence, administration, vehicle hire and contracts) 6.403 6.273 
			 Total 33.377 31.651 
		
	
	Costs shown for financial year 2011-12 are forecast expenditure and can change during the year. While it is planned to reduce the RAF in size, trained personnel in the right areas are still required and targeted recruitment needs to be maintained.

Air Force: Recruitment

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior aircraftmen were recruited to their posts in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; and how many he expects to be recruited in 2011-12.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 27 June 2011
	Personnel are recruited into the RAF at the rank of Aircraftman (AC) and then as they progress through training and service attain the rank of Senior Aircraftman (SAC).
	The following table provides information relating to the number of airmen/airwomen recruited into posts in the RAF:
	
		
			  Number of individuals recruited 
			 2008-09 3,704 
			 2009-10 3,014 
			 2010-11 1,102 
		
	
	As at 23 June 2011, the forecasted number of individuals expected to enter phase one training at AC rank in 2011-12 is 1,701.

Air Force: Training

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost to the public purse was of training an individual senior aircraftman in the latest period for which figures are available.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 27 June 2011
	Senior aircraftmen receive training packages tailored to their particular trade, and there are 60 different trade groups. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Aircraft Carriers

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision has been made for (a) carrier-borne air-to-air refuelling capability and (b) fixed-wing carrier on-board delivery for the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier; and what the in-service date is for each capability.

Peter Luff: holding answer 27 June 2011
	The strategic defence and security review announced the decision to procure the carrier variant of the joint strike fighter to operate from the new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier from around 2020. We are currently studying the most cost-effective way to provide an embarked air-to-air refuelling capability and assessing potential solutions for the Queen Elizabeth class on-board delivery requirement.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had on the pension rights of veterans who retired before 5 April 1975; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: Prior to 1975 there were no rights to preserved pensions in any public or private pension schemes. Most schemes had very restricted qualifying criteria for the award of pensions. For instance, armed forces occupational pensions were awarded only if a member had completed at least 16 years reckonable service as an officer or 22 years reckonable service as an other rank. Reckonable service is paid service after age 21 for officers or after age 18 for other ranks.

Armed Forces: Retirement

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-servicemen and women who served for three or more years and fewer than 22 years retired before 5 April 1975.

Andrew Robathan: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Uniforms

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what allowances his Department provides to new entrant officers in each of the services for (a) No. 2 Dress Uniform and (b) Dress Kit.

Andrew Robathan: All officer cadets are issued with number two dress uniforms. Naval service and RAF personnel are also issued with dress kit, while in the army, due to the variety of regimental uniforms, it is more cost effective for personnel to be provided with an allowance to cover the cost of their dress kit. This one off allowance ranges from £1,900 to £2,122.

Armed Services

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the present establishment of the RAF to undertake its tasks;
	(2)  with reference to the recent remarks of the First Sea Lord, if he will take urgent steps to reduce the workload of the Royal Navy;
	(3)  what plans he has to reduce the workload of the Royal Air Force.

Liam Fox: holding answer 27 June 2011
	The Strategic Defence and Security Review set out the adaptable posture that determines the structure of the armed forces. It distinguishes between different types of commitments for planning purposes. This allows our forces to be flexible enough to deal with unforeseen events, as well as maintaining other long-standing commitments.

Conditions of Employment

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with (a) officials in his Department, (b) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and (c) outside organisations on the potential effects of changes arising from the review of employment law on matters within his Department's responsibilities.

Andrew Robathan: The review of employment-related laws being co-ordinated by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is a cross-Government initiative.
	All departments with a responsibility for employment-related law are engaged in the process, and relevant Ministers and officials are in contact with BIS on a regular basis in taking forward the review.
	Departments are engaging with their stakeholders on issues relating to the employment law review in accordance with their standard procedures for consulting formally and informally on policy development.

Crown Relocations

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts his Department holds with Crown Relocations; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is.

Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence's financial management shared service centre contracts database does not show any contracts as having been placed with Crown Relocations.

Defence Equipment: Costs

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the near cash projected spending on the Equipment Plan and Equipment Support Plan is for each year to 2015.

Peter Luff: The planned near cash spending for the Equipment Procurement Plan and the Equipment Support Plan is as follows:
	
		
			 £ billion 
			 Financial year 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 
			 Equipment procurement 6.6 6.6 7.3 7.2 
			 Equipment support 6.4 6.5 6.8 7.4 
		
	
	Planned spending in financial year 2012-13 and beyond will be reviewed as part of the Ministry of Defence's routine planning process. This will take into account the outcome of a range of work currently under way, including the three month exercise.

Defence: Reform

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when he plans to make a statement on Defence Reform following the publication of the report of Lord Levene;
	(2)  what his timetable is for the implementation of the recommendations of Lord Levene's report on Defence Reform;
	(3)  when he plans to announce the results of the Defence Reform Review led by Lord Levene.

Liam Fox: I refer the right hon. Member to the statement I made on 27 June 2011, Official Report, columns 634-36.

Departmental Internet

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on its website since May 2010.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the armed forces collectively maintain four corporate websites.
	From 2009-10, the costs of the MOD corporate websites have been published centrally in an annual report on central Government websites. The annual report for 2009-10 is available as a House of Commons paper (HC367). The report for 2010-11 is due to be published at the end of June 2011.
	The Ministry of Defence is progressively reducing the number of departmental websites in accordance with the Cabinet Office website review in order to achieve cost and efficiency savings. To date the Department has closed a total of 115 websites/URLs, as listed on The National Archives' UK Government Website Database, the official listing of the Government's web estate, with eight more sites committed to close by 30 June 2011. We continue to monitor the Department's web presence and to seek opportunities to reduce costs in line with the Government's digital strategy.

Departmental Manpower

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to publish monthly information on changes in the numbers of employees of his Department's agencies, categorised by (a) seniority, (b) voluntary redundancy, (c) natural wastage and (d) involuntary redundancy.

Andrew Robathan: The Government are committed to transparency and the availability of data, and are currently exploring options for the more frequent publication of this type of work force management information across the civil service.
	The Defence Analytical Services and Advice organisation (DASA) already publishes periodic reports on Ministry of Defence (MOD) personnel numbers on its internet site at:
	www.dasa.mod.uk
	The DASA site contains the civilian personnel statistics quarterly return. Although this report does not currently contain all the information requested for civilian employees, its content has recently been reviewed and changes will be introduced for future editions. Those changes will include numbers of staff leaving MOD Trading Funds and their reasons for doing so.

Departmental Procurement

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by his Department since May 2010.

Liam Fox: The Ministry of Defence expects all suppliers to maintain high standards of integrity and professionalism in their business dealings adhering to the laws of the countries where they operate. The Department's standard contractual terms reflect this. There are no specific terms relating to ‘behavioural standards’.

Departmental Responsibilities

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department is making in (a) financial management (i) in-year and (ii) long-term, (b) restructuring its headquarters and other major headquarters and (c) restructuring Defence Equipment and Support.

Liam Fox: These issues are addressed by Lord Levene's work on Defence Reform, which I announced in my statement on 27 June 2011, Official Report, columns 634-36. We have already made significant progress in some areas. In particular, as part of the changes to corporate services I announced we are strengthening the role of the Director General Finance and his staff; I have established the Major Projects Review Board, which met for the first time on 13 June 2011; and the Chief of Defence Materiel has initiated a fundamental review of the effectiveness of Defence Materiel acquisition and support to produce The Materiel Strategy.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what overseas visits he has undertaken since May 2010.

Liam Fox: holding answer 27 June 2011
	Details of overseas travel undertaken by Defence Ministers are published on a quarterly basis at the following address:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/FinancialReports/Expenses/
	The period May to December 2010 has been published and copies of the details will be placed in the Library of the House. Information covering the period January to March 2011 will be published in due course at the website address given above.

Devonport Dockyard

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work his Department has undertaken to identify any cost differential entailed in moving submarines from Devonport to Faslane for maintenance.

Peter Luff: Work is ongoing to implement the decision to make HM Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde the main operating base for all of the UK's submarines. The deep maintenance of all submarines will continue to be conducted in Devonport. As the engineering support for submarines at HMNB Clyde will be delivered by the same contractor using similar materials and man hours, we have assessed that the cost of submarine maintenance will remain broadly the same.

European Fighter Aircraft

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the marinisation of the Typhoon fighter plane.

Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 26 October 2010, Official Report, column 201W. The Ministry of Defence reaffirmed its commitment to the Joint Strike Fighter to meet the carrier strike capability in the outcome of the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

European Fighter Aircraft: Repairs and Maintenance

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many spares for the Typhoon aircraft have been purchased beyond those already ordered as part of the Typhoon Availability Service since 19 March 2011; what the cost was to the public purse of the purchase of such spares; and whether the purchase cost was met by the Treasury Contingency Reserve.

Peter Luff: No additional Typhoon spares have been purchased since 19 March 2011 above those already ordered for planned flying operations. The Typhoon Availability Service contract is not a spares purchasing contract but an availability service contract.

Ex-servicemen: Prisoners

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of prisoners in (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland who had previously served in the armed forces.

Andrew Robathan: With regards to estimates of the number of prisoners in England and Wales who had previously served in the armed forces, I refer the hon. Member to the joint statement I made with the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Mr Blunt), on 15 September 2010, Official Report, column 40WS.
	Work continues to investigate ways of identifying ex-service personnel in prison in Scotland. However, there are no immediate plans to conduct a similar exercise in Northern Ireland.

HMS Endurance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date he expects the replacement for HMS Endurance to be fully operational.

Peter Luff: HMS Protector, the interim replacement ship for HMS Endurance, was commissioned into the Royal Navy fleet on 23 June. On current projections, it will depart Portsmouth towards the end of this year to conduct its first deployment to the Antarctic.

HMS Endurance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of refitting the replacement for HMS Endurance.

Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon) on 10 June 2011, Official Report, columns 537-38W.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the through life costs of (a) 138 and (b) 60 Joint Combat Aircraft.

Peter Luff: No final decision has yet been taken on the overall numbers of Joint Strike Fighter aircraft we intend to order, which will not be made before the next strategic defence review. The through life costs of the programme will be determined as main investment decision points are reached. The Ministry of Defence does not publish estimates prior to such decision points as to do so could prejudice commercial interests.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the basic combat radius is of the F-35 Lightning-11 C-model.

Peter Luff: The threshold performance of the Carrier Variant (CV) JSF F35C is 600 nautical miles.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many (a) F-35A and (b) F-35C aircraft his Department proposes to purchase between 2018 and 2025;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the lifetime maintenance costs of his Department's complement of (a) F-35A and (b) F-35C aircraft.

Peter Luff: holding answer 27 June 2011
	As announced in the strategic defence and security review we plan to acquire the carrier variant of joint strike fighter, the F-35C, to meet our operational requirements. We do not plan to purchase the F-35A.
	We have yet to make final decisions on the timing and overall numbers of F-35C aircraft we intend to order and will not do so before the next planned strategic defence review. The costs of the programme will be determined prior to its main investment decision points. The Ministry of Defence does not publish estimates prior to such decision points as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the reserve allocated to the military campaign in pursuance of UN Security Council Resolution 1973 is available to be spent.

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the contribution of the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 21 June 2011, Official Report, column 145, on what date he plans to provide an update to the House on the full costs of operations in Libya; and if he will make a statement to this House on the matter on that date.

Liam Fox: holding answer 27 June 2011
	I refer the hon. Members to the statement I made on 23 June 2011, Official Report, column 24WS.

Libya: Armed Conflict

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the potential for proliferation of portable anti-aircraft missiles from looted arms depots in Libya.

Nick Harvey: We continue to assess the situation in Libya closely, including the potential proliferation of man-portable anti-aircraft missiles. The threat from these weapons is taken into account before undertaking any military missions over Libya.

Libya: Harrier Aircraft

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the sale of Harrier aircraft on the UK's participation in military operations in Libya.

Nick Harvey: The Harrier fleet was retired from service on 15 December 2010 and is currently in storage. Disposal options are currently being considered for the Harrier airframes.
	The decision to retire our Harrier fleet has had no significant effect on the UK's participation in military operations over Libya.

Military Decorations

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has had discussions on introducing a National Defence Medal to recognise those who served during the Cold War period.

Andrew Robathan: There have been various discussions regarding the institution of a National Defence Medal including a short debate on 8 February 2011, Official Report, columns 50-58WH. The Minister for the Armed Forces, my hon. Friend the Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey), met a representative of the National Defence Medal Campaign in April.
	The Ministry of Defence recognises that some former service personnel, including those who served during the Cold War period, feel that their service has not been appropriately recognised, and that the institution of such a medal would address this. However, it would be inappropriate to comment further until the current review of the rules governing the award of medals has been concluded.

Nimrod Aircraft: USA

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the US Navy on the use of the P-8 Poseidon as a replacement for the (a) Nimrod MR2 and (b) Nimrod MR4A.

Peter Luff: Discussions have taken place with the US Government regarding maritime patrol aircraft capability. However, the Department currently has no plans to lease or buy Poseidon-8 aircraft.

Office of Chief Coroner

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with (i) the Secretary of State for Justice and (ii) the Minister for the Cabinet Office on the decision not to establish the Office of Chief Coroner.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 27 June 2011
	Ministers have engaged with the Ministry of Justice and Cabinet Office on this matter. I refer the right hon. Member to the statement made by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), on 12 June 2011, Official Report, columns 64-66WS, in which he details the Government’s plans for coroner reform, including the inclusion of the office of Chief Coroner in Schedule 5 of the Public Bodies Bill.

Royal Military Academy: Admissions

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the nationality was of each student enrolled at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst between 1 June 2010 and 31 May 2011.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 27 June 2011
	The nationalities of Officer Cadets enrolled at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst between 1 June 2010 and 31 May 2011 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Country Count 
			 Afghanistan 7 
			 Albania 5 
			 USA 6 
			 Armenia 1 
			 Azerbaijan 1 
			 Bahrain 12 
			 Belize 2 
			 Botswana 1 
			 Brunei 3 
			 China 5 
			 Georgia 1 
			 Ghana 3 
			 Iraq 3 
			 Jamaica 3 
			 Jordan 8 
			 Kazakhstan 1 
			 Kenya 2 
			 Kuwait 6 
			 Lebanon 1 
			 Luxemburg 2 
			 Malaysia 2 
			 Malta 2 
			 Morocco 1 
			 Nepal 2 
			 Nigeria 2 
			 Oman 12 
			 Pakistan 4 
			 Palestine 2 
			 Qatar 6 
			 Rwanda 3 
			 Saudi Arabia 5 
			 Singapore 2 
			 Swaziland 1 
			 Thailand 2 
			 Tonga 2 
			 U.A.E. 19 
			 Uganda 4 
			 Yemen 6 
			 UK 597

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to produce his Defence and Security Industrial and Technology Policy.

Peter Luff: We plan to publish a White Paper on our approach to equipment, support, and technology for UK Defence and Security later this year.

Tornado Aircraft: Repairs and Maintenance

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many spares for the Tornado aircraft have been purchased above those already ordered as part of the Availability Transformation Tornado Aircraft contract since 19 March 2011; what the cost was to the public purse for the purchase of such spares; and whether the purchase cost was met by the Treasury Contingency Reserve.

Peter Luff: The RAF Tornado GR4 fleet is supported by an Availability Transformation Tornado Aircraft contract (ATTAC) with BAE Systems which includes aircraft maintenance, spares and technical support. The contract is designed to ensure that the RAF has the required number of aircraft available to carry out its operational and training commitments; this includes the current flying operations in Libya.
	The contract does not however, require BAE Systems to separately identify any additional spares that might have been required in support of specific operations.

Trident

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the study to review the costs, feasibility and credibility of alternative systems and postures to the Trident missile delivery system will include the use of deterrents such as the intelligence services, Special Forces, or other capabilities available in the defence and security economy.

Liam Fox: holding answer 22 June 2011
	No. The purpose of the study is to examine alternative forms of nuclear deterrence, including alternative delivery systems and platforms, and to analyse their potential risks, benefits, and feasibility.

WE 177 Nuclear Bomb

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse of the WE.177 missile programme was (a) in cash terms and (b) in 2011 prices up to the date of its withdrawal from service; and what the cost of procurement of each missile was.

Peter Luff: I will write to the hon. Member, as the information requested may take some time to retrieve from archive.
	Substantive answer from Peter Luff to Tessa Munt:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 17 March 2011 (Official Report, column 516W) about the cost details of the WE177 nuclear weapon programme. I apologise for the delay in writing to you; this has been due to the need for The National Archives (TNA) to review their file holdings.
	The WE177 free-fall bombs were in service with the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy for over 30 years, and were finally retired in 1998. Due to the length of time that this weapon has been out of service, many files have been placed in TNA, although a considerable number are retained within the Ministry of Defence's own archives, as well as those of the Atomic Weapons Establishment. It would be necessary to retrieve and examine all of these files to identify whether they hold relevant information. If the information was located - which is by no means certain - we would then need to extract and collate the information and update historic costs going back over 30 years to a 2011 price base to answer your question. This would require significant effort and could therefore only be done at disproportionate cost.
	I know that this response will be disappointing to you but I do hope that you will appreciate why I feel that it would be inappropriate to ask for such a significant amount of work to be undertaken in the circumstances described.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Arts: Immigration Control

Michael McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people entered the UK under each approved Tier Five Government-authorised exchange scheme in each year between 2000 and 2010.

Damian Green: The Government Authorised Exchange sub-category of Tier 5 of the Points Based System was introduced in November 2008. The available statistics relate to the number of journeys made by passengers given leave to enter the UK in 2008, 2009 and January to June 2010 in the Points Based System Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange sub-category. Figures for July to December 2010 will be published on 25 August 2011.
	The statistics are given in the following table. It is not possible to separately identify data relating to individual schemes nor is such data available for previous periods.
	
		
			 Passengers  (1)   given leave to enter the United Kingdom under the PBS  (2)   Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange  (3)   category, excluding EEA and Swiss nationals, 2008-10 
			  Number of journeys 
			 2008 November to December — 
			 2009(4) 350 
			 2010 January to June(4) 135 
			 (1) Figures rounded to five. (2 )Points Based System(PBS) (3) The Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange category was introduced in November 2008. (4 )Provisional figures Source: Migration Statistics, Home Office Statistics. 
		
	
	Statistics on journeys made by passengers given leave to enter the United Kingdom by purpose of journey are published half yearly in the quarterly Home Office Statistical Bulletin, "Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary". These publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/

Asylum: Deportation

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deportations of failed asylum seekers formerly resident in Sunderland Central constituency there have been in the last 12 months.

Damian Green: There were 14 failed asylum seekers formerly resident in Sunderland Central constituency removed between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011.
	All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

Crime: Diplomatic Service

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures police forces follow to request a waiver of immunity in cases where they are investigating a crime suspected to have been committed by a foreign diplomat; how many police officers have received training on this procedure; and in how many cases this procedure has been followed to its conclusion in relation to trafficking of migrant domestic workers by foreign diplomats in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Herbert: The UK demands a high standard of behaviour of its diplomats, and we expect the same of diplomats from other countries here in the UK. Under the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations those entitled to immunity are expected to respect the laws of the UK.
	The police investigate any allegation that the law has been broken by diplomats entitled to immunity and report the results to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Full account is taken of the nature and seriousness of the offence and appropriate action is taken. This can include a request for immunity to be waived to allow the police to investigate further, or a request for the immediate withdrawal of the diplomat concerned.
	We do not have a record of the number of police officers who have received training on this procedure.
	During 2010, 15 offences deemed serious (attracting a penalty of 12 months' or more imprisonment, including certain driving offences) were reported to the FCO, one of which was an alleged case of human trafficking.
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is to table information on waivers of diplomatic immunity this month, as part of the annual written ministerial statement on offences and debts.

Departmental Billing

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many invoices received by her Department have been paid (a) on time and (b) late in each month since May 2010; and what the monetary value is of the invoices paid late.

Damian Green: For the period from May 2010 to May 2011 the Home Department paid 68,114 of compliant invoices on time, and 10,663 late. The monetary value of invoices paid late was £223,787,312.

Departmental Manpower

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to publish monthly information on changes in the numbers of employees of her Department's agencies, categorised by (a) seniority, (b) voluntary redundancy, (c) natural wastage and (d) involuntary redundancy.

Damian Green: I can confirm information on changes in the number of the Department's employees is published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as part of its Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ACSES). Published ACSES data are available on the ONS website, at the following address:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=2899
	The latest available data, as at 31st March 2010, can be found under ‘civil service 2010 tables’ in table 9 (giving information on the whole civil service) and table 40 (giving information on the Home Office and its agencies).
	ONS collects data from across the civil service on reason for leaving (for those employees who left the civil service in the 12 months up to the survey date, usually 31 March each year). ONS is currently working closely with Departments to improve the quality of information that is supplied. However, this is an annual survey and there are currently no plans to change the frequency of collection.
	The Home Office is fully committed to meeting the Government's transparency agenda and is actively considering ways to make more of its key HR data more readily available. However, the Department has clear obligations to its employees to ensure that personal data are not released, and that it is not published at a level that could lead to the inappropriate identification of individual employees. In addition, and in line with the Statistics Authority code of practice, the Department has a responsibility to ensure that any data released are reliable and of a good quality, and any change in reporting frequency and content needs to be agreed with ONS and the Chief Statistician.

Departmental Procurement

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by her Department since May 2010.

Damian Green: The Home Department uses standard terms and conditions similar to those used across Government to procure a wide range of goods and services. These contracts do not contain specific provisions in respect of behavioural standards. Contracts for more complex requirements let prior to and since May 2010 contain provisions to promote industry best practice but not specifically behavioural standards.

Departmental Redundancy

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of redundancies in its non-departmental bodies (a) in 2011-12 and (b) over the comprehensive spending review period.

Damian Green: The Home Office is currently in consultation with its arm’s length bodies to establish work force plans for the spending review period. These are not yet finalised. We are committed to active redeployment for colleagues who become surplus and have developed policies to ensure surplus staff get preferential access to vacancies. Our policy is to avoid compulsory redundancy wherever possible.

Departmental Termination of Employment

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many managers at grade C or above have left the employment of her Department in the last two financial years; and how many of those managers have subsequently been employed by (a) Serco, (b) G4S and (c) any other private sector company holding contracts with her Department.

Damian Green: In the financial year 2009-10, 1,144 managers at grade C or above left the Department. In the financial year 2010-11, 1,404 managers at grade C or above left the Department. (Figures are provided as per Office for National Statistics headcount definition—paid civil servants only).
	The Department fully complies with the rules and guidance set out by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments regarding employment of ex-civil servants—see:
	http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/rules_and_guidance_civil_servants.aspx
	We are unable to provide data on the number of managers who have subsequently been employed by (a) Serco, (b) G4S and (c) any other private sector company holding contracts with the Department. Individuals at Director General and Permanent Secretary level who are given permission under the Rules and Guidance on Business Appointments must inform the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments if they take up employment following approval. Individuals below this level are not required to notify the Department that they have taken up employment following approval.

Deportation: Tamils

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of citizens of Commonwealth countries of Tamil ethnicity who have (a) been held for removal to Sri Lanka by the UK Border Agency (UKBA), (b) been booked by the UKBA onto flights for removal to Sri Lanka, (c) attempted acts of self harm while awaiting removal to Sri Lanka, (d) committed suicide while awaiting removal to Sri Lanka and (e) been removed to Sri Lanka since May 2009.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency records details of individuals on the basis of nationality only, rather than ethnicity.
	(a) There are currently 95 Sri Lankan nationals in detention.
	(b) 10 Sri Lankan nationals currently have arrangements in place for their return to Sri Lanka
	(c) It is not possible to establish the total numbers of attempted acts of self harm from May 2009 without reviewing each and every case record
	(d) No individuals have committed suicide while awaiting return to Sri Lanka
	(e) Between 1 May 2009 and 31 March 2011, 1,025 Sri Lankan nationals were removed.

Deportation: Tamils

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizens of Commonwealth countries of Tamil ethnicity who have been removed to Sri Lanka by the UK Border Agency have returned to the UK and subsequently been granted leave to remain; whether she has received any reports of the torture or maltreatment of such persons while in Sri Lanka; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency records details of individuals on the basis of nationality only, rather than ethnicity.
	Since May 2009, the UK Border Agency records indicate that two Sri Lankans who have previously been removed by the UK Border Agency have subsequently returned and made applications to remain in the UK. One application was unsuccessful and one is still under consideration.
	The UK Border Agency carefully considers all applications, including asylum claims on their individual merits, in accordance with UK international obligations and against the background of the latest available country information. It is open to an individual applicant to submit any evidence in support of that application, including allegations of mistreatment.

Deportation: Tamils

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any citizen of Commonwealth countries of Tamil ethnicity booked on a chartered flight to Sri Lanka by the UK Border Agency on 16 June 2011 attempted acts of self-harm before take-off of the flight; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency records details of individuals on the basis of nationality only, rather than ethnicity.
	One subject attempted an act of self-harm prior to the flight. He was confirmed by a medical practitioner as being fit to travel.

Entry Clearances: Pay

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account her Department takes of regional variations in salary in establishing minimum salary requirements for the issue of visas.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency's codes of practice specifying the minimum salary requirements for employers seeking to sponsor non-EEA workers under Tier 2 of the points based system are drawn from the most appropriate and robust sources of national salary data for particular occupations. In general, these sources do not specify different minimum salary levels for different parts of the United Kingdom.

Foreign Workers

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many intra-company transfer visas the UK Borders Agency has issued to (a) Indian and (b) other non-EU nationals employed by (i) Intelenet Global Services, (ii) Atos Origin and (iii) Hewlett Packard in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Damian Green: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Visas issued financial year 2010-11 PBS Tier 2—intra company transfers 
			   Sponsor 
			 Month Nationality Intelenet Global Services Atos Origin Hewlett Packard 
			 2010     
			 April Indian (1)— 10 (2)— 
			  Other Non-EU (1)— (1)— (2)— 
			      
			 May Indian (1)— 15 10 
			  Other Non-EU (1)— 5 (1)— 
			      
			 June Indian (1)— 5 5 
			  Other Non-EU (1)— (2)— (1)— 
			      
			 July Indian (1)— 10 5 
		
	
	
		
			  Other Non-EU (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			      
			 August Indian (1)— 15 10 
			  Other Non-EU (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			      
			 September Indian (1)— 5 10 
			  Other Non-EU (1)— (1)— 5 
			      
			 October Indian (1)— (1)— 15 
			  Other Non-EU (1)— (1)— (2)— 
			      
			 November Indian (1)— 10 10 
			  Other Non-EU (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			      
			 December Indian (1)— 15 5 
			  Other Non-EU (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			      
			 2011     
			 January Indian (1)— 10 5 
			  Other Non-EU (1)— (1)— (2)— 
			      
			 February Indian (1)— 5 5 
			  Other Non-EU (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			      
			 March Indian (1)— 5 5 
			  Other Non-EU (1)— (1)— (2)— 
			 (1) Represents nil. (2) Represents one or two Note: All figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

Foreign Workers

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 9 June 2011, Official Report, columns 36-8WS, on immigration, what her policy is on the intra-company transfer visa process; and whether she plans to conduct a public consultation on intra-company transfer visas.

Damian Green: The Government carried out a public consultation on the economic migration routes between 28 June and 17 September last year, including specific questions on intra-company transfers (ICTs). The results were incorporated into new rules applying to ICTs from 6 April.
	The ICT route does not give migrants a pathway to permanent residence in the UK and they must leave after a maximum of five years. Therefore they are not relevant to the proposals in the consultation document referred to in the written ministerial statement of 9 June.

Foreign Workers

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what recent assessment she has made of the potential effects of a free trade agreement between the EU and India on the number of intra-company transfer visa applications received by the UK Borders Agency;
	(2)  what recent assessment she has made of the potential effects on domestic immigration policy of (a) free trade agreements between the EU and non-EU countries and (b) the proposed free trade agreement between the EU and India.

Damian Green: The Government undertook a review of their labour migration routes last year in the context of their proposals to subject these routes to limits on numbers. The review took full account of the UK's existing Mode 4 commitments in those multilateral and bilateral trade agreements to which it is party.
	The EU-India Free Trade Agreement remains under negotiation but it is the Government's expectation that its terms should be consistent with domestic immigration policy objectives.

Further Education: Inspections

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has received a response from HM Inspector of Education in Scotland regarding the inspection of private providers of higher and further education.

Damian Green: We remain in discussion with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education on their potential role in the establishment of an inspection system for private providers of further education in Scotland and hope to announce further information on this shortly.

Human Trafficking

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the performance of the Border Police Command in reducing the number of people illegally trafficked.

Damian Green: holding answer 27 June 2011
	As set out in ‘The National Crime Agency (NCA): a plan for the creation of a national crime-fighting capability’ when established in 2013, the new Border Policing Command will help to tackle illegal immigration by joining together all of the resources and activities of the enforcement agencies operating at the border. It is intended that this improved capability, linking to other capabilities within the NCA, will result in increases in arrests, convictions and disruption at all levels.
	The NCA plan can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/crime/nca-creation-plan

Illegal Immigrants: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants were found in the London Borough of Havering in each of the last five years; and how many such immigrants have been deported.

Damian Green: The data requested are not available as part of the UK Border Agency's standard reports. Information on illegal immigrants encountered and removals is recorded on two separate databases. To obtain the requested information would require data matching between these two systems which would exceed the cost threshold.
	We are however able to identify those cases encountered (i.e. served papers) with a last known address in the borough who were subsequently removed. This does not mean they were necessarily encountered in the borough of Havering.
	This information is as follows:
	
		
			  Served IS151A Subsequently removed 
			 2006 90 36 
			 2007 129 45 
			 2008 180 52 
			 2009 203 27 
			 2010 148 42 
			 2011 57 13 
			 Grand total 807 215 
			 Note: The figures in the table have been extracted from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. They have not been provided under National Statistics protocols.

Illegal Immigrants: Middle East

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of former (a) Israeli, (b) Egyptian and (c) Tunisian officials and military personnel visiting the UK using false names or fake identity papers the UK Border Agency has detected in 2010 and 2011.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not routinely record this information. Any information that could be obtained could be done so only by detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.

Immigration

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions (a) Ministers and officials in her Department and (b) the UK Borders Agency have had with representatives of trade unions on (i) administration, (ii) operation and (iii) reform of the immigration system.

Damian Green: The reforms to the system have been the subject of public consultations, and officials have considered representations from trade union officials as part of that process.

Immigration: Detainees

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those in immigration detention have (a) an appointed legal representative, (b) a legal representative they selected and (c) no legal representative.

Damian Green: holding answer 22 June 2011
	The information requested is not held centrally and would require examination of each individual file to answer the question. Each detainee with a legal representative would also have to be asked if he or she chose their representative themselves. This would be at disproportionate cost.

Immigration: Detainees

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in immigration detention (a) have been diagnosed with serious mental health conditions, (b) are torture survivors, (c) are pregnant, (d) are children and (e) are elderly.

Damian Green: holding answer 22 June 2011
	The UK Border Agency does not hold information centrally about those who have a serious mental health condition or who are torture survivors. Specifically in relation to mental health conditions, this information is held on an individual's medical file which is confidential.
	Medical practitioners who work in immigration removal centres are required to report to the UK Border Agency where they have concerns a person's health is likely to be injuriously affected by continued detention, including where a person may have been the victim of torture.
	Where the UK Border Agency accepts that a person's health is likely to be injuriously affected by continued detention, they are normally released.
	However, there are a number of circumstances when detention may nonetheless be appropriate. These are for reasons of public protection, where a person has been convicted of a crime, those who have persistently failed to abide by the terms of their release conditions, and in order to effect removal.
	If a pregnant woman chooses to inform the UK Border Agency of her condition, the detail would be held on her medical file which is confidential between patient and doctor. The agency was holding no children and 12 people over 65 years of age on 18 June 2011. This data is taken from management information, is subject to change and does not form part of national statistics.

Immigration: Detainees

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of people in immigration detention who are unlikely to be deported to their country of origin in the next 12 months.

Damian Green: holding answer 22 June 2011
	It is the expectation of UK Border Agency that detained individuals will be removed from the UK when their immigration case has been completed. Immigration detention powers are mainly used to secure removal and intention and ability to remove are intrinsically linked to the decision to detain.
	There will inevitably a small number of detainees who for a variety of reasons, such as having won an appeal against a decision to remove them, are granted some form of leave to remain.

Immigration: Detainees

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in immigration detention have been detained at more than (a) one centre, (b) three centres and (c) five centres on the immigration estate.

Damian Green: holding answer 22 June 2011
	The information requested is not held centrally and would require an examination of each individual record in order to provide the answer, which would be at disproportionate cost.
	The UK Border Agency aims to keep the number of transfers between its places of detention to a minimum, but inevitably detainees are sometimes moved for a variety of different reasons, including because their behaviour requires them to be held in a more secure environment, because they are required for an interview at a particular centre, or because they are being moved close to an airport for their removal from the UK.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the basis in law is for the requirement that an EEA national in exercise of their treaty rights of residence and a non-EEA partner who are both applying for residence documents provide proof of comprehensive medical insurance covering both of them as a condition for the issue of a residence document in respect of the non-EEA partner.

Damian Green: The legislation governing the free movement of Union citizens and their family members is laid down in Directive 2004/38/EC (the Free Movement Directive). This has been transposed into the UK's domestic law as the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations (the Regulations).
	Regulation 4 of the Regulations stipulates that in order to reside in the UK as a student or self-sufficient person an EEA national must have comprehensive sickness insurance. For family members applying for a residence card on the basis that the relevant EEA national is exercising Treaty rights as a self-sufficient person, they must also submit evidence of comprehensive sickness insurance that covers all family members. This is in accordance with Regulation 4(2)(b) of the Regulations.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 31 May 2011 to the UK Border Agency, reference N1136111.

Damian Green: holding answer 21 June 2011
	The UK Border Agency confirms that a response was issued to the hon. Member on 24 June 2011.

Offenders: Foreign Nationals

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national offenders released from custody after serving sentences for (a) rape, (b) other sexual offences and (c) violence against the person offences who have been returned to their country of origin have subsequently (i) successfully and (ii) unsuccessfully applied to re-enter the UK.

Damian Green: In order to answer these questions the UK Border Agency would need to cross reference individual records with the National Offender Management Service. This would incur a disproportionate cost.
	However, I can advise that the UK Border Agency makes every effort to ensure that a foreign national prisoner's removal by deportation coincides, as far as possible, with his or her release from prison on completion of sentence. Where sentence length allows, consideration of an individual's case will be commenced 18 months prior to the earliest point of release.
	All foreign nationals subject to removal and serving a determinate sentence will be considered by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) under the Early Removal Scheme (ERS), which allows for early removal up to a maximum of 270 days prior to the halfway point of the sentence, subject to the serving of a requisite period. In 2010, the UK Border Agency removed 5,235 foreign national prisoners. Approximately a third of these removals occurred within the ERS period.
	I can also advise that all foreign national prisoners when removed from the UK are entered on our watch list, so checks can be made to prevent those who are barred and those who have no right from re-entering the UK. Requests to revoke a Deportation Order from outside the UK can be made at any time, but applications are likely to be refused unless at least 10 years have passed, unless the refusal to revoke would breach our obligations under the Human Rights Act or the Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees or other exceptional circumstances exist. The revocation must be successful to facilitate lawful return to the UK. Even where a Deportation Order has been revoked, visa nationals still require a visa to return to the UK and non-visa nationals must satisfy the requirements of the immigration rules.

Police: Demonstrations

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has assessed the costs to police authorities of policing of protests and marches.

Nick Herbert: The Government have made no recent assessment of the cost to police authorities of policing protests and marches. For any protests or marches which require a significant police presence, the police force is able to apply for a special grant to assist them with the costs of the operation, subject to the operation meeting certain criteria.

Police: Demonstrations

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has considered the merits of extending the provisions of section 25 of the Police Act 1996 to allow charging for the policing of marches and protests.

Nick Herbert: The Home Secretary has regular discussions with Police colleagues on the issue of deploying their resources, during which the Home Secretary receives information about the effect of policing protests and marches on police resources. For any protests or marches which require a significant police presence, the police force is able to apply for a special grant to assist them with the costs of the operation, subject to the operation meeting certain criteria.

Police: Finance

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police staff receive funding (a) in full and (b) in part from parish councils.

Nick Herbert: We do not collect information centrally on what funding for police staff comes from parish councils.

Telephone Tapping

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the Metropolitan Police investigation into telephone hacking by the press and their associates to be completed.

Nick Herbert: The conduct of the investigation, its scope, and the time taken to complete it are operational matters for the Metropolitan Police.

TREASURY

Bank Notes: Forgery

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many counterfeit Bank of England banknotes were removed from circulation in each year since 2005.

Justine Greening: The Bank of England publishes information about the withdrawal of counterfeit Bank of England notes on its website:
	http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/about/counterfeits.htm

Child Care Tax Credit

Edward Balls: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has estimated the number of parents who (a) have chosen and (b) will choose to (i) leave a job and (ii) reduce their working hours as a result of the reduction in the proportion of childcare costs parents can claim through the working tax credit.

David Gauke: The assumptions made in the costing of changes to child tax credit and working tax credit from 2011-12 are set out in “Spending Review 2010 Policy Costings”, available here:
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_policycostings.pdf

Child Care Tax Credit

Edward Balls: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from non-governmental organisations on the effect of the reduction in the proportion of childcare costs that parents can claim through working tax credit.

Justine Greening: The Treasury receives regular representations from non-governmental organisations on a wide range of policy issues and spending decisions. This includes the decision taken at last year's spending review to reverse the unaffordable April 2006 increase in the proportion of child care costs payable under the child care element of the working tax credit from 70% to 80%.

Companies: Disclosure of Information

Jane Ellison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on increasing corporate transparency.

David Gauke: The Government are committed to improving corporate transparency.
	As the Chancellor made clear following the G20 Finance Minister's meeting in February 2011, the Government believe that development of new rules to require oil, gas and mining companies to report the payments they make to governments should take place at international level.
	HM Treasury officials and those in other interested Government Departments are in regular contact with their European and international counterparts on this issue.

Corporation Tax: Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings Ministers in his Department have had with the Northern Ireland Executive to discuss corporation tax since May 2010.

David Gauke: Treasury Ministers have had at least six meetings with the Northern Ireland Executive since May 2010 at which corporation tax was discussed.

Departmental Allowances

Tom Watson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenses were claimed by (a) paid and (b) unpaid special advisers working in his Department in the last 12 months.

Justine Greening: All special advisers working for Treasury Ministers are paid employees. The total amount of reimbursable expenses for the 12 month period covering 13 May 2010 to 31 March 2011 was £1,720.49. The expenses were mainly incurred on travel and subsistence.

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress his Department has made in encouraging small businesses to bid for Government contracts.

Justine Greening: On 3 June 2011, the Treasury published a Small and Medium sized Enterprise (SME) action plan for 2011-12. The full action plan, including details of the desired outcomes and success factors, is available on the Treasury's website at the following address:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about_sme_action_plan_201112.htm
	This plan is also available on the Cabinet Office's website along with other Departments' action plans at the following address:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/small-and-medium-enterprise-sme-action-plans
	The Treasury is committed to implementing this plan. Progress against each action will be monitored both by the Treasury itself and the Cabinet Office.

Enterprise Zones

David Lammy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the Financial Statement of 23 March 2011, Official Report, column 959, when he expects to announce the location of the 10 remaining enterprise zones;
	(2)  on what date the location of the final 10 enterprise zones will be announced.

Justine Greening: The Government intend to announce a second wave of enterprise zones following a competitive process, led by local enterprise partnerships. We expect to make announcements this summer.

Enterprise Zones: Finance

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Barnett consequential funding has been allocated to each devolved Administration as a result of the spending measures announced in the 2011 Budget in respect of enterprise zones.

Danny Alexander: The Barnett consequentials arising from the enterprise zones measure are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 
			 Scotland 0 1.329 3.421 5.638 
			 Wales 0 0.767 1.975 3.255 
			 Northern Ireland 0 0.446 1.147 1.891

Excise Duties

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will review the operation of the drawback duty regime;
	(2)  with which brewers officials of his Department have held meetings to discuss the introduction of a scheme of duty stamps on beer;
	(3)  whether he has made an assessment of the potential effects of the introduction of a scheme of duty stamps on beer.

Justine Greening: At Budget 2011 the Government announced that they would explore potential legislative measures to tackle alcohol fraud. This will include reviewing the legislation that underpins the operation of the excise duty drawback regime.
	Treasury and HMRC officials hold regular meetings with the industry to discuss measures to tackle alcohol excise fraud.
	No formal assessment has been made of the potential effects of introducing a fiscal mark on beer at this point.

Excise Duties: Biofuels

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his policy is on the continuation of a 20 pence duty differential in the tax treatment of biodiesel in each of the next three financial years;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the contribution of the 20 pence duty differential for biodiesel to the UK's compliance with renewable energy targets.

Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce) on 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 459W.
	The differential has helped toward meeting the UK's targets alongside the inclusion of biofuel in standard road diesel. From March 2010 support for biofuels has been provided by the renewable transport fuels obligation (RTFO). The two year extension of the differential for used cooking oil biodiesel began March 2010.

Excise Duties: Biofuels

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he has assessed the merits of extending the 20 pence fuel duty differential for biodiesel made from used cooking oil beyond April 2012;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the potential effects on the sustainable biodiesel industry of abolishing the 20 pence fuel duty differential for biodiesel made from used cooking oil; and what recent representations he has received on this matter;
	(3)  if he will review the fuel duty derogation for those who refine less than 2,500 litres of biodiesel per year in light of recommendations by the Health and Safety Executive on amateur biodiesel production.

Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 459W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce). The Chancellor considers a range of factors in determining tax policy including the interaction with other support measures and the public finances.
	The amendment of the renewable transport fuels obligation (RTFO) is expected to be made in the second half of 2011. This will provide an overlapping period before the two-year extension of the used cooking oil duty differential comes to an end.
	The small producers' biofuel duty exemption continues to offer effective tax relief to low volume producers. The chemicals and processes involved in small scale biofuel production are hazardous. The Health and Safety Executive advises against home manufacture of biodiesel using domestic or other unsuitable facilities.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the downstream oil industry on proposals to introduce a fuel price stabiliser mechanism since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Justine Greening: The Government are informally consulting with the industry before setting the level and mechanism for the trigger price for the fair fuel stabiliser.
	Treasury Ministers and officials hold regular meetings with the oil industry.

Fuels: Prices

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what discussions he has had on fuel price stabilisation with his counterparts in those EU member states which have introduced a fuel price stabilising mechanism; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his policy is on a differential in duty between petrol and diesel; and if he will make a statement.

Justine Greening: Budget 2011 abolished the previous Government's fuel duty escalator and replaced it with a fair fuel stabiliser. The Chancellor routinely discusses a range of issues with European counterparts.
	The duty rate on petrol and diesel is set at the same level. A neutral excise duty treatment supports market transparency.

HM Revenue and Customs: Services

Jason McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to ensure that queries to HM Revenue and Customs from taxpayers are dealt with more efficiently and helpfully.

David Gauke: HMRC are committed to provide an efficient and helpful service to their customers. The HMRC Charter, available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/charter/index.htm
	sets out what customers can expect from HMRC and what, in turn, HMRC expects from customers.
	Improving levels of service is a departmental priority and is underpinning all of HMRC’s current Business Planning.

National Insurance Contributions

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to extending the national insurance contributions holiday to all businesses with less than four employees.

David Gauke: The Government have considered the case for extending the regional national insurance contributions holiday to all existing micro businesses.
	The Government believe the best use of public funds at this time is to keep the holiday as a targeted scheme for those areas in most need of employment support.

Non-domestic Rates

Mark Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many reviews of national non-domestic rates were completed in each region in each month of the last three years for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many appeals against national non-domestic rates valuations in relation to the (a) 2005 and (b) 2010 rating exercise were outstanding on the latest date for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many appeals have been received by the Valuation Office Agency against national non-domestic rates valuations in relation to the 2005 ratings in each (a) region, (b) local authority area and (c) parliamentary constituency in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many reviews in each category had been completed;
	(4)  how many appeals have been received by the Valuation Office Agency against national non-domestic rates valuations in relation to the 2010 ratings in each (a) region, (b) local authority area and (c) parliamentary constituency in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many reviews in each category had been completed.

David Gauke: The number of proposals cleared by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in each region in each month of each of the last three complete financial years has been deposited in the Library of the House.
	The number of proposals against the 2005 Local Rating List, outstanding at the end of the 2010-11 financial year, can be found in Table 7.4 on the VOA website at the following location:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/May-2011-local-rating/Challenges/Table%207.4.xls
	The number of proposals against the 2010 Local Rating List outstanding, at the end of the 2010-11 financial year, can be found in Table 3.4 on the VOA website at the following location:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/May-2011-local-rating/Challenges/Table%203.4.xls
	The number of proposals against the 2005 Local Rating List by administrative area, including regional sub-totals, received in the 2010-11 financial year can be found in Table 7.2 on the VOA website at the following location:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/May-2011-local-rating/Challenges/Table%207.2.xls
	The number of proposals cleared over the same period can be found in Table 7.3 on the VOA website in the following location:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/May-2011-local-rating/Challenges/Table%207.3.xls
	The number of proposals against the 2010 Local Rating List by administrative area, including regional sub-totals, received in the 2010-11 financial year can be found in Table 3.2 on the VOA website at the following location:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/May-2011-local-rating/Challenges/Table%203.2.xls
	The number of proposals cleared over the same period can be found in Table 3.3 on the VOA website in the following location:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/statistical_releases/May-2011-local-rating/Challenges/Table%203.3.xls
	Similar statistics broken down by parliamentary constituency can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Personal Pensions

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many complaints his Department has received on hidden charges in private pension schemes since his appointment;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with the Financial Services Authority on (a) hidden charges in and (b) mis-selling of private pension funds.

Mark Hoban: The regulation of private pension products, providers and schemes is a matter for the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Pensions Regulator. However, the Treasury does engage regularly with these bodies on a variety of pensions issues, including on initiatives such as the FSA's Retail Distribution Review (RDR), which is currently examining the transparency and fairness of fees and charges across the financial advice landscape.
	The Treasury receives many letters from Members of Parliament and the public on a wide range of issues. Treasury Ministers and officials also have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
	As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions or correspondence received.

Private Finance Initiative

David Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what private finance initiative projects have been signed by the Government since 7 May 2010.

Danny Alexander: HM Treasury publishes two spreadsheets containing information on signed and in procurement PFI projects on its website. These spreadsheets were updated on 16 March 2011 using data submitted by Government Departments to HM Treasury. This information can be accessed from the Treasury website:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_pfi_stats.htm
	Between 7 May 2010 and 16 March 2011, the “Signed projects” spreadsheet shows 22 projects already in procurement reached financial close. Of these 21 were entered into by local authorities and one was a central Government project. Since the last data collection reported at 16 March we understand that a further seven number of projects have reached financial close. Of these seven were entered into by local authorities. This data will be reviewed and updated, at the next formal data collection point in the autumn.
	No new PFI projects have been approved by central Government to enter procurement since 7 May 2010.

Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2011, Official Report, column 328W, on tax collection, if he will place in the Library a copy of each generic letter used by HM Revenue and Customs to inform individuals and businesses of outstanding tax liabilities in the last two years; and who authorised the use of each such generic letter.

David Gauke: HMRC no longer uses standard letters for debt. After initial notification of a debt customised letters are used.
	HMRC send a wide variety of letters to customers in respect of outstanding tax liabilities. Many of these are sent automatically by our various debt management systems while some are more specifically designed for issue to individual customers.
	Letters are authorised for issue by a range of staff up to and including senior civil servants.

Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of contracts issued by (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which he is responsible were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in (i) Scotland, (ii) South Lanarkshire and (iii) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Justine Greening: In 2009-10, HM Treasury third party spend for goods and services procured from a wide range of suppliers was £117.5 million, 32% of which were with organisations defined as small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
	The Treasury does not hold information based on the geographical location of suppliers. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Sir Alan Greenspan

Denis MacShane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the plaque referring to Sir Alan Greenspan is on view to visitors to his Department's main building.

Justine Greening: Yes it is.

Tax Allowances: Health Insurance

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce tax relief on personal private medical insurance premiums.

David Gauke: The Government have no plans to introduce tax relief for personal private medical insurance.

Taxation: Fraud

David Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the funding allocated to tackling fraud and error by his Department will be allocated to reducing (a) customer error, (b) fraud and (c) administrative error up to 2014.

David Gauke: It is not possible to provide an answer to the question in the format requested as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) do not allocate on this basis. Overall funding for HMRC's compliance activity cannot be broken down in this way as its activity—from policy making, through support and education, to audits and investigations—covers all aspects of compliance behaviour from error through to evasion as well as countering criminal attacks.

Universal Credit

David Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans HM Revenue and Customs has to minimise (a) customer and (b) administrative error in the administration of universal credit.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	Universal credit is being designed to be simple to understand and administer. Customers will be asked to provide the minimum information necessary to administer their claim, with information already held being reused where possible. Administrative error will be minimised by processing the majority of claims and changes automatically, based on the application of business rules to claimant information. Most claims and changes will be processed in real time, meaning any discrepancies will be identified and addressed much more quickly.

VAT: Registration

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what proportion of VAT registrations in England were in the 50 most deprived local authority areas in England (a) in each year since 2005 and (b) in 2011 to date;
	(2)  what proportion of the 50 most deprived local authority areas were in the lowest quarter of data distribution of VAT registration rates in England in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Gauke: The proportion of new, and total, registrations in the 50 most deprived English local authority areas are shown in the following table for each financial year (information on a calendar year basis is not available):
	
		
			 Proportion of VAT registrations in the 50 most deprived areas in England 
			 Percentage 
			 Financial year New VAT registrations Total registrations 
			 2005-06 20 16 
			 2006-07 16 15 
			 2007-08 19 15 
			 2008-09 21 16 
			 2009-10 19 17 
			 2010-11 20 17 
		
	
	The proportion of the 50 most deprived local authority areas that were also in the lowest quarter of VAT registration rates in England was 24%, in the latest period for which figures are available, 2008.

VAT: Vocational Training

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the merits of exempting pilot training from VAT.

David Gauke: holding answer 16 June 2011
	Education and vocational training are exempt from VAT when supplied by eligible bodies, such as schools, colleges, universities, local authorities and non-profit making organisations, or when supplied using funding ultimately provided by certain Government funding schemes. All other supplies of education and vocational training are liable to VAT.
	The Government have no plans to consider extending this exemption to other types of education and training.

CABINET OFFICE

Breast Cancer: Jarrow

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were diagnosed with breast cancer in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England and Wales in the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2011
	.
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer (incidence) are for the year 2008. Please note that these numbers may not be the same as the number of people diagnosed with cancer, because one person may be diagnosed with more than one cancer.
	The following table provides the numbers of newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer for each year from 2004 to 2008 in (a) Jarrow parliamentary constituency, (b) South Tyneside local authority district, (c) North East government office region and (d) England and Wales.
	
		
			 Table 1: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer,  (1,2)   Jarrow parliamentary constituency, South Tyneside local authority district, North East government office region and England and Wales, 2004-08  (3,4) 
			 Cancer registrations 
			  2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 
			 Jarrow 62 69 88 74 68 
			 South Tyneside 117 119 161 117 129 
			 North East 1,989 2,005 2,062 1,862 2,077 
			 England and Wales(5) 40,580 41,484 41,654 41,298 41,654 
			 (1) Breast cancer is coded as C50 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). (2) Around 99% of breast cancer cases are in women. (3) Based on boundaries as of May 2011. (4) Newly diagnosed cases registered in each calendar year. (5) Figures include data provided by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit.

Business

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what indicators he plans to (a) monitor and (b) report on in determining the effectiveness of his policy on ensuring small and medium-sized businesses bid for Government contracts.

Francis Maude: All Departments have published SME action plans to make sure that contracts are available to and competed for by SMEs. To monitor and report on the extent to which the Government are successful in ensuring small and medium-sized businesses can and do bid for government contracts we are:
	Monitoring progress against delivery of the 25% aspiration;
	Identifying contracts that have been awarded to SMEs when they are published on Contracts Finder;
	Publishing regular updates on the extent to which Departments are putting opportunities and contracts on Contracts Finder;
	Working with SME Groups to assess the impact of the changes made to the procurement process in terms of time and cost of bidding.

Business

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what methodology his Department has adopted to assess the impact on businesses of (a) existing and (b) new legislation.

Francis Maude: Cabinet Office uses HM Treasury's Green Book Guidance to evaluate the impact of policy.
	As with other Department's any new burdens go through the Reducing Regulation Committee. Cabinet Office has no themes on the 'Red Tape Challenge website'.

Business

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to (a) improve the provision of information to small and medium-sized businesses on Government procurement opportunities and(b)develop appropriate advice services and training packages for such businesses; and how much funding he has allocated for these purposes.

Francis Maude: On 11 February 2011 I launched Contracts Finder, a one stop shop to enable suppliers to find procurement opportunities and tender documents and contracts online, free of charge. Contracts Finder includes a facility whereby suppliers can indicate in which sectors and areas they are interested and they will receive email notification of relevant opportunities free of charge.
	To help small businesses build skills and capacity and support SMEs to access public procurement opportunities, BIS has designed (with input from across both the public and private sectors) a free on-line public procurement training course 'Winning the Contract' available on the Businesslink website at:
	www.businesslink.gov.uk/winningthecontract
	Both Cabinet Office and BIS provide a range of advice, guidance and information for SMEs on the Businesslink site at:
	www.businesslink.gov.uk/procurement
	Stephen Allott, the Crown representative for SMEs, is working with Departments to plan to run a series of product surgeries, the details of which will be announced soon.
	Funding for this work comes out of existing operational budgets.

Childbirth: High Peak

Andrew Bingham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many births have taken place at the Corbar Birthing Unit in High Peak in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated June 2011
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question, asking how many births have taken place at the Corbar Birthing Unit in High Peak in each of the last five years.
	Figures for live births by establishment have been compiled from birth registration data. Information on place of birth is provided by the informant at registration rather than by the actual establishment, The latest figures available are for 2009.
	
		
			 Live births occurring at the Corbar Birth Centre, Buxton, 2005 to 2009 
			  Number of live births 
			 2005 139 
			 2006 111 
			 2007 173 
			 2008 138 
			 2009 159

Contracts

Ian Lavery: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his policy is on the offshoring of contracts held by private sector companies with Government Departments.

Francis Maude: The Government's procurement policy is to seek value for money for the public purse through fair competition in open markets, in line with our membership of the EU and other international agreements. While the vast bulk of contracts go to UK-based companies, we cannot preclude suppliers proffering off-shored services where these meet the required criteria and provide the best value for money.

Contracts: Construction

Alun Michael: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance his Department has produced for local authorities on the use of TrustMark when outsourcing public sector construction contracts; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: We have issued no guidance on using TrustMark, which is designed primarily for the benefit of individual consumers.

Dalai Lama

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what reason the UK representative of the Dalai Lama was not invited to a reception hosted by the Minister without Portfolio on 13 June 2011.

Francis Maude: The noble Lady Baroness Warsi hosted a celebratory reception for over 120 representatives of different faiths, organisations and Buddhist traditions in recognition of the contribution that the Buddhist community makes to the United Kingdom. The Dalai Lama's representative was not included in the list of diplomatic invitees because he does not have diplomatic status.

Departmental Allowances

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what expenses were claimed by (a) paid and (b) unpaid special advisers working in his Department in the last 12 months.

Francis Maude: No expenses have been claimed by special advisers working in the Cabinet Office in the last 12 months.

JUSTICE

Prisoner Activities

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he plans to take to ensure that time spent in prison is spent on meaningful activity.

Crispin Blunt: We intend to transform prisons into places where most prisoners undertake work and training.
	Policy work is proceeding urgently to identify how to engage business partners to help deliver work in prisons in a away that generates an economic return which can be put towards the victims of crime. Last week I chaired the first meeting of the Business Advisory Group who will help guide our policy into becoming the reality of prison life for most prisoners.

Office of Chief Coroner

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions his Department has had with INQUEST and the Royal British Legion on the retention of the Office of Chief Coroner.

Jonathan Djanogly: I have discussed our proposals with a number of interested parties, including peers, MPs and civil society groups such as INQUEST and the Royal British Legion. We have, where possible, sought to take into account these discussions in developing the proposals, announced on 14 June, to transfer a number of functions of the Chief Coroner while retaining the office on the statute book. We believe this represents the fastest and most efficient way to deliver reform of the coronial system, although we accept that some stakeholders would prefer to proceed with full implementation of the Office of Chief Coroner.

Prisoners: Working Hours

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week prisoners in England and Wales worked on average in the latest period for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: The latest available figures relate to 2009-10 and show that prisoners in England and Wales spent 11.8 hours per week on average in work.

Foreign National Offenders

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on progress in the deportation of foreign national offenders.

Nick Herbert: Home Office and Justice Ministers have frequently discussed the issue of foreign national prisoners, and our officials are in regular contact. The removal of foreign national prisoners and offenders awaiting deportation is a mutual priority.

Civil Proceedings: Fees and Charges

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the Government's response to Lord Justice Jackson's recommendations for reforming civil litigation funding and costs in England and Wales, Cm 8041, if he will publish the statistical evidence produced by the economist assessor Professor Fenn.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Government do not hold the statistical evidence on which Professor Fenn's analysis was based. Lord Justice Jackson's response to the Government's consultation paper “Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Costs in England and Wales—Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations” included an analysis by Professor Fenn of the cumulative effect on personal injury claims of the key proposals. Lord Justice Jackson's response is published on the Judiciary of England and Wales website:
	www.judiciary.gov.uk

Civil Proceedings: Fees and Charges

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the Government's response to Lord Justice Jackson's recommendations for reforming civil litigation funding and costs in England and Wales, Cm 8041, if he will collect the data required for a full quantitative assessment of the impacts of his proposals.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Government have published an assessment of the cumulative impacts of the reforms they intend to take forward as announced in their response ‘Reforming Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales—Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations—The Government Response’. The impact assessment takes account of such data as the Government received as a result of their request for data during the consultation process.

Civil Proceedings: Fees and Charges

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the Government's response to Lord Justice Jackson's recommendations for reforming civil litigation funding and costs in England and Wales, Cm 8041, how many responses to the consultation his Department received.

Jonathan Djanogly: As set out at paragraphs 36 and 37 of the Government Response, ‘Reforming Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales—Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations’, the Government received 625 formal responses. The response is available in the House Libraries and is also available on the Ministry of Justice website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/jackson-review.htm

Departmental Allowances

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what expenses were claimed by (a) paid and (b) unpaid special advisers working in his Department in the last 12 months.

Kenneth Clarke: I have two paid special advisers, who have claimed total expenses of £576.24 in the period 13 May 2010 to 31 March 2011. These expenses related to travel and telephone call charges. There are no unpaid special advisers in my Department. Lord McNally, Minister of State for Justice and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, has one special adviser, paid for by the Leader of the Lords Office. She advises him in his capacity as Deputy Leader and has claimed no expenses from my Department.

Departmental Manpower

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy to publish monthly information on changes in the number of employees of his Department's agencies, categorised by (a) seniority, (b) voluntary redundancy, (c) natural wastage and (d) involuntary redundancy.

Kenneth Clarke: At this stage there are no plans to publish a more detailed breakdown of departmental work force statistics or to increase the current list of pre-announced publications.
	Under Cabinet Office guidelines the Office for National Statistics collects employment figures from all Departments and their agencies quarterly and while decision making internally makes use of such figures, to ensure the best use of departmental resources, the required data cleansing exercises would not currently allow statistics to be presented that matched publication guidelines. If in the future there is an opportunity to increase the frequency and detail of this published data we would revisit this publication issue.
	In addition, the Ministry supports the coalition Government's transparency agenda and discloses details of senior staff salaries and work force statistics. The first round of this disclosure was published in October 2010 and reflected the position within the Ministry at 30 June 2010. The second round of disclosure was published on the 15 June 2011 and shows the position within the Ministry at 31 March 2011. This can be found at the following web address:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/transparency-data/senior-civil-service-salaries-and-organograms.htm

Departmental Press: Subscriptions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what newspaper and magazine titles prisons purchase for use by prisoners; and whether his Department prohibits the purchase of any newspaper or magazine title for use by prisoners.

Crispin Blunt: Information relating to the titles of newspapers and magazines purchased for prisoners is not held centrally and could be collated only at disproportionate cost. In addition to stock held in the library, prisoners are able to purchase newspapers and periodicals for their own use, using their own funds.
	Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 12/2011 (Prisoners' Property) notes that governors, when permitting prisoners to have access to newspapers, books and magazines etc., they need to exclude those that the governor considers:
	offensive or inappropriate
	presents a threat to good order or discipline
	(the possession of which) is likely to have an adverse affect on the prisoner's physical or mental condition
	Censorship of material will not usually be exercised, save where an item is clearly offensive and/or in breach of legal requirements (such as racist articles, or items with age certificates, for example). However, the establishment may restrict an individual's access to some material, which will be on a case-by-case basis.
	The governor must also impose restrictions on the display of material which he or she considers is likely to cause offence by reason of its indecent or violent racist content, or which is deemed to be inconsistent with our commitments to eliminate discrimination and promote equality. In essence, governors are responsible for deciding what is suitable for the prisoners in his/her establishment and devising their own schemes.

Departmental Redundancy

Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of redundancies in its non-departmental bodies (a) in 2011-12 and (b) over the comprehensive spending review period.

Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice has not made any estimates of the cost to the public purse of redundancies in its non-departmental bodies (a) in 2011-12 or (b)over the comprehensive spending review period. To date, the cost to the public purse for redundancies in MOJ non-departmental public bodies is nil.

Injunctions

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of super injunctions.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Prime Minister recently wrote to the Chairs of the Justice Select Committee and the Culture, Media and Sport Committee recommending that a Joint Committee of both Houses be established to consider current arrangements around privacy and the use of injunctions and super injunctions and whether improvements could be made. The terms of reference for the new Committee have now been agreed. The Committee has been asked to report by 29 February 2012 and we look forward to receiving its views on these important issues.

Legal Aid

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on the provision of legal aid for the settlement of domestic disputes.

Crispin Blunt: We published the Government's response to our consultation on legal aid on 21 June. Legal aid will remain available for mediation in private family law cases, such as disputes about children or finance following the breakdown of a relationship. We believe that it is right to encourage families, where appropriate, to resolve their disputes without recourse to the courts. Legal aid will also remain available for cases where domestic violence or child abuse is present, where there is evidence of the need for protection. We will continue to fund applications for civil remedies for domestic violence and for injunctions to restrain abusive behaviour, as at present.

Legal Aid: Nationality

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2011, Official Report, column 179W, on legal aid: Iraq, for what reasons the Legal Services Commission does not record the nationality of claimants; and if he will instruct them to do so.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission does not identify or record the nationality of claimants as this is not one of the criteria used to decide whether a person should receive legal aid. The fact that an applicant may live abroad is not a factor in the decision-making process under the legal aid scheme. The rules for scope and qualification are in legislation or other documents laid before Parliament.

Magistrates Courts

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he plans to take to ensure that the necessary exchange of information between magistrates courts, a probation trust and a private company is carried out; and what steps he plans to take to ensure that the exchange will comply with data protection legislation following the completion of the tendering process for unpaid work.

Crispin Blunt: The new contracts for Community Payback will require all providers to ensure that there is an effective, safe and legal exchange of data.
	The contracts between each Trust and the Secretary of State for Justice, for the delivery of probation services, include a requirement to comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. This would be mirrored in any contract with a private sector provider.

Marriage

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when his Department expects to begin its consultation on reform of marriage law.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice is responsible for fundamental marriage law in England and Wales. Marriage law is a devolved issue in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	On 31 March 2011, the Government Equalities Office launched a public consultation on implementing section 202 of the Equalities Act 2010 to enable civil partnerships to be registered on religious premises. This consultation closed on 23 June. The consultation document sets out that, following a listening exercise conducted last year, the Government identified a desire from many to move towards equal civil marriage and partnerships. We have committed to work with all those who have an interest in this area on how legislation can develop. The Government Equalities Office will begin this work in July 2011.

Missing Persons

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he plans to take to facilitate the handling of the financial affairs of missing persons by their relatives; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Government have no plans to change the law relating to the property and affairs of missing persons. However, we will carefully consider the report of the Inquiry by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Runaway and Missing Children and Adults into support for families of missing people when it is published.
	In relation to assisting those left behind by missing persons more generally, the Government are considering what further action is needed in relation to the recommendations of the Missing Persons Taskforce for improving the multi-agency response to missing incidents. Of the taskforce's 22 recommendations, eight have been implemented and action is under way on a further seven. For example, the Ministry of Justice is liaising with the Missing Persons' Bureau on improving awareness of section 15 of the Coroners Act 1988, which provides that the Secretary of State for Justice can direct a coroner to open an inquest in to the death of a person who is missing and presumed dead.

Parole: Standards

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average waiting time was from application to a parole hearing in each of the last 10 years.

Crispin Blunt: The parole process for indeterminate sentence prisoners is scheduled to last six months. However, in 2010-11 the average time from the point that the Secretary of State refers an indeterminate sentence prisoner's case to the Parole Board for a review until when the case was heard was 8.5 months. The average waiting time for 2011-12 to date is 7.5 months. We are committed to working with the Parole Board to eliminate delays in the parole process and ensure that all parole reviews are held on time.
	We are unable to provide average waiting times for previous years due to disproportionate costs.

Prisoners’ Release: Foreign Nationals

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2011, Official Report, columns 919-22W, on foreign nationals: prisoners, how many foreign national prisoners (a) from each country of origin and (b) in each sentence length band were released from prison in each of the last 10 years.

Crispin Blunt: Table 1 shows numbers of foreign national prisoners discharged from determinate sentences by country of origin. Table 2 shows numbers of foreign national prisoners discharged from determinate sentences by sentence length band 2001 to 2010. 2009 data are not available to this level of detail.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			 Foreign national prisoners discharged from determinate sentences by country, England and Wales 
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 
			 Afghanistan 29 32 41 45 66 49 27 45 73 
			 Albania 51 60 67 73 81 61 77 77 83 
			 Algeria 98 105 111 132 156 132 117 147 125 
			 Andorra 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Angola 39 45 55 50 58 44 49 52 46 
			 Anguilla 1 1 2 2 1 1 0 2 2 
			 Argentina 0 2 4 5 5 3 1 1 4 
			 Armenia 2 0 3 5 1 2 1 1 2 
			 Aruba 1 4 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 
			 Australia 30 34 33 31 26 15 20 23 20 
			 Austria 3 7 5 3 8 9 7 3 5 
			 Azerbaijan 1 0 0 0 1 1 3 1 1 
			 Bahamas 1 0 1 2 2 3 3 1 2 
			 Bahrain 1 2 0 3 0 1 1 0 1 
		
	
	
		
			 Bangladesh 117 137 161 169 137 156 112 128 121 
			 Barbados 7 24 11 13 24 12 10 10 13 
			 Belgium 21 17 30 24 25 18 28 13 15 
			 Belize 0 2 0 5 1 2 0 1 2 
			 Benin 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 5 1 
			 Bermuda 2 1 2 1 3 2 4 0 3 
			 Bolivia 2 6 1 5 4 4 8 3 0 
			 Bosnia and Herzegovina 12 7 7 9 16 17 11 16 16 
			 Botswana 1 3 0 0 0 6 2 3 3 
			 Brazil 17 13 27 26 29 42 115 88 82 
			 British Indian Ocean Territory 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Brunei Darussalam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Bulgaria 7 8 10 5 15 16 76 111 131 
			 Burkina Faso 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Burundi 7 6 7 9 6 7 11 5 2 
			 Cambodia 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 
			 Cameroon 10 9 15 14 23 25 28 25 21 
			 Canada 30 26 23 26 21 13 11 19 16 
			 Cape Verde 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Cayman Islands 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Central African Republic 10 9 8 14 8 19 13 12 12 
			 Chad 0 0 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 
			 Chile 15 13 13 18 15 16 11 17 10 
			 China 19 39 31 121 255 479 365 391 339 
			 Colombia 53 51 57 63 37 36 42 40 35 
			 Comoros 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Congo 29 35 73 82 105 83 72 84 80 
			 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 45 42 46 35 33 15 19 13 4 
			 Costa Rica 0 0 1 1 1 4 2 2 2 
			 Croatia 5 6 7 a 6 5 9 3 6 
			 Cuba 2 3 5 7 3 3 2 1 1 
			 Cyprus 29 31 33 24 21 25 28 38 9 
			 Czech Republic 9 13 12 29 34 69 73 103 122 
			 Denmark 9 7 8 6 11 5 10 11 8 
			 Djibouti 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Dominica 3 6 5 2 4 3 3 3 2 
			 Dominican Republic 1 2 2 4 4 3 3 3 9 
			 Ecuador 12 6 19 17 15 15 15 14 4 
			 Egypt 13 6 3 11 29 8 10 9 16 
			 El Salvador 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Equatorial Guinea 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 
			 Estonia 3 4 4 6 17 28 20 23 31 
			 Ethiopia 39 31 15 36 51 51 30 51 23 
			 Fiji 3 2 1 1 1 5 1 6 6 
			 Finland 2 2 3 0 4 1 2 3 2 
			 France 100 103 107 125 116 124 148 164 162 
			 French Guiana 1 1 1 1 2 1 3 7 2 
			 French Southern Territories 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Gabon 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 
			 Gambia 8 15 26 19 26 33 33 28 20 
			 Georgia 2 2 3 5 4 11 14 17 15 
			 Germany 92 86 90 85 85 64 82 95 50 
			 Ghana 67 54 75 89 93 90 102 143 101 
			 Gibraltar 2 1 3 2 3 0 0 2 2 
			 Greece 30 17 18 19 26 17 13 18 9 
			 Greenland 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Grenada 8 12 11 10 8 12 12 9 10 
			 Guam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Guatemala 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 10 
			 Guinea 1 0 3 5 5 5 7 11 10 
			 Guinea-Bissau 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 
			 Guyana 14 20 16 13 12 7 17 18 13 
		
	
	
		
			 Haiti 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 
			 Heard and McDonald Islands 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Honduras 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Hong Kong 11 1 9 10 9 8 8 7 0 
			 Hungary 6 9 9 6 11 15 25 28 47 
			 Iceland 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 India 162 165 188 222 207 211 170 246 229 
			 Indonesia 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 4 0 
			 Iran 36 49 93 103 149 168 132 156 130 
			 Iraq 40 96 146 202 235 240 194 158 141 
			 Irish Republic 812 802 781 808 780 723 718 739 742 
			 Israel 10 4 11 14 20 20 4 20 28 
			 Italy 134 139 129 139 114 121 113 101 85 
			 Ivory Coast 5 7 7 17 15 19 18 20 28 
			 Jamaica 487 726 1.142 1.238 801 514 419 381 313 
			 Japan 2 2 1 2 2 0 1 0 2 
			 Johnston Island 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Jordan 2 4 0 2 7 0 5 1 2 
			 Kazakhstan 0 3 0 1 5 3 1 3 1 
			 Kenya 45 48 46 56 51 46 49 58 36 
			 Kiribati 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 
			 Korea, DPR (North Korea) 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 4 1 
			 Korea. Republic of 7 2 0 4 0 3 1 4 3 
			 Kuwait 5 5 3 4 12 13 8 10 7 
			 Kyrgyzstan 3 0 1 3 1 4 1 0 1 
			 Lao Peoples Democratic Republic 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 
			 Latvia 4 6 4 16 50 90 143 181 357 
			 Lebanon 14 8 5 18 13 10 9 13 14 
			 Lesotho 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Liberia 5 4 12 15 21 10 13 18 13 
			 Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 7 8 12 9 14 12 9 11 17 
			 Liechtenstein 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 
			 Lithuania 18 20 30 71 154 293 424 615 831 
			 Luxembourg 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Macedonia 2 3 1 5 3 2 6 4 3 
			 Madagascar 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Malawi 6 3 6 4 12 13 13 14 17 
			 Malaysia 5 13 21 30 41 23 32 39 41 
			 Maldives 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Mali 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 2 
			 Malta 20 9 15 12 6 7 9 8 2 
			 Mauritania 0 1 2 4 4 3 1 5 3 
			 Mauritius 9 14 11 8 10 9 13 16 14 
			 Mayotte 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Mexico 0 0 3 6 13 6 7 12 22 
			 Moldova 3 1 16 20 20 18 20 29 20 
			 Mongolia 1 1 4 4 3 4 1 9 6 
			 Montserrat 4 3 3 7 8 14 5 11 14 
			 Morocco 38 38 41 35 37 30 27 28 40 
			 Mozambique 1 2 0 2 3 4 6 5 3 
			 Myanmar 1 2 1 1 1 4 1 6 2 
			 Namibia 0 0 2 3 7 11 0 3 5 
			 Nepal 2 0 5 2 5 2 0 2 13 
			 Netherlands 73 60 99 89 58 63 66 68 54 
			 Netherlands Antilles 5 6 7 8 7 8 11 5 3 
			 New Zealand 11 8 9 9 6 10 3 10 2 
			 Nicaragua 1 0 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 
			 Niger 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 7 
			 Nigeria 129 185 235 269 357 471 629 657 449 
			 Norway 2 2 3 4 6 0 3 10 8 
			 Oman 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 
			 Other 10 7 17 8 1 7 5 4 2 
		
	
	
		
			 Pacific Island 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Pakistan 260 240 264 247 271 248 249 229 225 
			 Panama 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 
			 Papua New Guinea 0 0 2 0 2 1 1 0 0 
			 Paraguay 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Peru 4 4 2 4 2 3 3 6 3 
			 Philippines 3 9 3 8 10 10 23 10 19 
			 Poland 57 44 57 83 186 401 700 960 1,023 
			 Portugal 164 176 169 203 220 195 213 268 217 
			 Qatar 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Romania 34 53 80 113 128 116 218 443 912 
			 Russian Federation 25 40 57 88 84 94 104 124 118 
			 Rwanda 2 6 4 8 10 5 10 7 7 
			 Samoa 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 San Marino 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sao Tome and Principe 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Saudi Arabia 7 7 12 9 11 13 6 8 7 
			 Senegal 0 0 1 1 10 4 5 6 6 
			 Serbia and Montenegro 83 90 80 66 53 41 25 48 21 
			 Seychelles 1 3 5 5 3 4 2 1 3 
			 Sierra Leone 32 46 44 47 55 47 39 27 36 
			 Singapore 4 2 2 4 4 3 3 3 8 
			 Slovakia 6 3 7 10 11 33 52 71 98 
			 Slovenia 1 0 2 1 3 3 6 2 5 
			 Solomon Islands 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Somalia 166 176 193 243 274 302 217 268 313 
			 South Africa 104 140 130 137 107 127 150 152 60 
			 South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Spain 51 58 52 54 49 44 39 57 45 
			 Sri Lanka 66 68 70 79 96 101 98 97 93 
			 St Kitts and Nevis 2 2 4 3 3 1 1 2 1 
			 St Lucia 4 13 16 6 8 15 13 14 10 
			 St Pierre and Miquelon 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 St Vincent and the Grenadines 2 3 3 3 6 3 4 8 4 
			 Sudan 7 7 14 19 19 33 21 30 26 
			 Suriname 2 2 2 2 0 1 1 5 0 
			 Swaziland 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 2 1 
			 Sweden 8 6 9 6 13 19 17 19 13 
			 Switzerland 0 3 4 4 5 4 3 3 3 
			 Syrian Arab Republic 1 2 4 3 9 7 4 2 11 
			 Taiwan (Nationalist Chinese) 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 
			 Tajikistan 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Tanzania 11 11 9 10 10 11 9 13 14 
			 Thailand 3 5 7 4 7 e 4 9 S 
			 Timor-Leste (East Timor) 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Togo 1 0 2 1 0 3 4 3 2 
			 Tonga 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 18 16 23 38 59 47 35 43 21 
			 Tunisia 7 9 6 10 9 5 6 10 13 
			 Turkey 122 116 124 137 145 104 70 102 77 
			 Turkmenistan 2 0 2 1 0 2 0 1 2 
			 Uganda 46 52 54 53 61 55 47 42 50 
			 United Arab Emirates 6 2 4 3 5 7 1 3 3 
			 United States 55 46 59 67 55 49 59 63 37 
			 Uruguay 3 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 
			 Uzbekistan 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 2 1 
			 Venezuela 4 6 7 16 19 24 22 5 3 
			 Vietnam 34 37 54 51 93 84 110 222 380 
			 Virgin Islands 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Western Sahara 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Yemen, Republic of 3 4 4 7 9 7 4 4 3 
			 Zambia 8 7 23 12 15 14 12 16 10 
		
	
	
		
			 Zimbabwe 31 79 107 186 201 222 231 246 205 
			           
			 All 4,717 5.248 6.242 7,082 7,384 7,650 8.077 9,517 9,836 
		
	
	
		
			 Foreign national prisoners discharged from determinate sentences by sentence length, England and Wales 
			  Less than or equal to six months Six months to less than 12 months 12 months to less than four years Four years or more All 
			 2001 2,593 359 1,164 601 4,717 
			 2002 2,802 429 1,355 662 5,248 
			 2003 3,141 483 1,775 843 6,242 
			 2004 3,777 518 1,642 1,145 7,082 
			 2005 3,919 734 1,871 860 7,384 
			 2006 4,489 865 1,644 652 7,650 
			 2007 4,659 1,055 1,613 750 8,077 
			 2008 5,693 1,187 1,761 876 9,517 
			 2010 5,676 1,097 2,282 781 9,836

Prisoners: Mass Media

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many times (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have authorised prisoners serving a sentence for each type of offence to contact the media in each of the last five years;
	(2)  if he will take steps to ensure that prisoners contacting the media without authorisation are given sanctions;

Crispin Blunt: Prisoners are required to seek permission for contact with the media only if doing so by telephone or face to face interview and in consultation with Ministry of Justice Press Office. They do not require permission to contact the media by written correspondence. Prior to a change in policy in July 2010, all decisions on applications for contact by telephone or face to face interview were made locally by governors and no central records were collated. This information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost. Since July 2010 only applications for face to face interviews have had to be referred to the Ministry of Justice Press Office for approval on behalf of the Secretary of State for Justice. There have been no decisions to allow an interview in this time.
	Prisoners who breach the rules relating to contact with the media will be dealt with under internal disciplinary procedures and face additional monitoring of their communications.

Prisons: Discipline

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals to enable records of disciplinary action taken against prisoners for breaching prison rules and other behavioural matters while in custody to be (a) published in the public domain and (b) made available to victims of their crimes.

Crispin Blunt: The overall figures for prison disciplinary proceedings are published annually in the Offender Management Caseload Statistics. There are over 100,000 proven prison disciplinary offences each year. In addition, prisoner behaviour may be dealt with under the incentives and earned privileges scheme and local systems of minor reports.
	Details of disciplinary action and behavioural matters are held in individual prisoner records. This information is not collated centrally as there is no operational need for this, and to do so for the purposes of publication would incur substantial additional cost.
	Victims who opt into the statutory Victim Contact Scheme operated by Probation Trusts for victims of certain serious violent and sexual offences, where the offender receives a custodial sentence of 12 months or more, or where certain mental health disposals have been given, do receive information about key stages in the offender's sentence. Such key stages include when offenders are moved to open prison conditions, and when they are released. Personal information about the prisoner, such as their custodial behaviour, is not disclosed. There are no plans to make changes to the type of information provided to victims under the scheme.

Prisons: Education

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the name is of each course of study available to prisoners; and how many prisoners have (a) undertaken and (b) completed each such course in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: This information is not centrally collected and could be gained only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Education

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much the education programme in prisons cost in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 June 2011, Official Report, column 105W, to the right hon. Member for Tooting (Sadiq Khan).

Prisons: Employment

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information he plans to publish on (a) value and (b) price in respect of the contracting of unpaid work.

Crispin Blunt: We would intend to publish the name of the winning bidder and total contract price.

Prisons: Gyms

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what contracts his Department has to provide gymnasium facilities in prisons.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice does not hold any current contracts relating to the provision of any outsourced gymnasium facilities in HM Prisons.
	However the Ministry of Justice holds two national contracts for the supply of gymnasium equipment and associated sports equipment to HM Prisons in England and Wales. The details of the contracts are as follows:
	Supply of physical education gymnasium equipment and provision for supporting servicing and maintenance
	Contract ref: ST02 10/139/9
	Expires 30 September 2011
	Suppliers: Servicesport and PSLT t/a Physique Sports Ltd
	Supply of sports equipment and sportswear
	Contract ref: 0278-Operational Goods
	Expires 30 April 2015
	Supplier: Newitt and Co Ltd
	The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Defence are currently tendering this requirement collaboratively for the next generation of contracts for gymnasium equipment. The resultant contracts will be available in autumn 2011.

Prisons: Video Games

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many video games consoles were purchased by prisons in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Crispin Blunt: Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 32/2008, Restricting Prisoner Access to Games Consoles/Games, issued on 23 July 2008, instructed Governors in the adult estate to ensure that all games consoles and console games are purchased at prisoners' own expense. No public funds must be used by establishments to purchase games consoles and equipment. Access to games consoles is restricted to prisoners who are on the enhanced level of the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme.
	Information on games consoles purchased before that date is not available and could be obtained only as disproportionate cost. There is not a central cost category for games consoles and this would require manual examination of the records in every prison.
	PSI 32/2008 is available in the Library of the House.

Probation: Harassment

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what training probation officers receive on supervising persons convicted under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

Crispin Blunt: All staff qualifying as probation officers under the Probation Qualifications Framework (2010) or previous training arrangements, have received training to honours degree level and vocational qualification level 5, which specifically includes supervising persons convicted under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. The training provides a full working understanding of the Equality Act (2010) in which harassment is specifically included, in addition to the practical skills to work effectively with offenders who present a high risk of harm to others. This includes stalking, racially motivated offenders and those convicted of domestic violence. All qualified probation officers must have demonstrated skills in assessing the risk of harm presented by such offenders and have supervised a number of high risk offenders.

Sentencing

Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration he has given to taking into account an act of deliberate deception by a suspect during a police interview in his proposals for reduced sentencing in recognition of early guilty pleas by defendants.

Crispin Blunt: We have no plans to alter the arrangements for reducing sentences in recognition of early guilty pleas.

Sentencing

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration he has given to the implications for his Department's policy of the judgement of the Court of Appeal in R. v. Round and R. v. Dunn in respect of anomalies in sentencing legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The anomalies highlighted in these cases affected prisoners serving a combination of sentences subject to the release provisions of different Acts; that is, where the Criminal Justice Act 1991 applied to one or more of the sentences while the Criminal Justice Act 2003 governed release from the other sentence(s). The problem with such mixtures of sentences had been that there is no clear provision to combine them together into a single sentence as happens when the sentences all fall under a single Act. This produced an anomaly in eligibility for Home Detention Curfew (HDC), with those serving multiple sentences under just one Act having eligibility dates based on the total combined length of all the sentences whereas those serving 'mixed Act' sentences were eligible only on the last of the sentences handed down by the court.
	This issue was addressed by the Court of Appeal in the case of Round and Dunn but was subsequently taken forward and resolved by the Supreme Court in the case of Noone. In its judgment of 30 June 2010, the Supreme Court concluded (contrary to the previous Court of Appeal judgments) that mixed Act sentences were not being correctly applied. The court therefore interpreted the 2003 Act Commencement Order in such a way as to make clear that consecutive mixed Act sentences of under 12 months and 12 months or over should be aggregated as if they were all subject to the 2003 Act release arrangements.
	As a result of this judgment, the relevant dates for all prisoners serving mixed Act sentences were required to be recalculated to ensure they were brought in line with the Supreme Court's ruling. The Ministry of Justice therefore issued a Prison Service Instruction (PSI)—number 55/2010—on 13 August 2010 to inform prisons of the action they were required to take. This resulted in the anomalies highlighted by these cases being removed.
	Further steps to address this issue and to put the statutory position beyond doubt are being taken through the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, introduced on 21 June 2011. We intend to simplify the existing release and recall provisions and to ensure that all future sentences are subject to the same regime.

Sentencing: Legal Aid

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the statement of 21 June 2011, Official Report, columns 465-67 and the written ministerial statement of 21 June 2011, Official Report, columns 9-12WS, on sentencing reform: legal aid, what information on the policy proposals contained in the Statement was given to media representatives in advance of (a) the oral statement and (b) the delivery to the House of the text of the written ministerial statement; how many (i) media outlets and (ii) journalists were contacted by his Department for the purposes of providing information on such proposals; and on what days such contacts were made.

Kenneth Clarke: I have been assured and I am satisfied that no information was given by my Department which was not already in the public domain with the exception of the Government's proposals on legal aid for squatters resisting eviction. This was discussed with a journalist from The Daily Telegraph as part of a wider conversation about issues which were already outlined in the Green Papers.

Squatting

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the potential effect of proposals to reform the law on squatters on vulnerable people who squat.

Crispin Blunt: We are aware of arguments that tougher laws to tackle squatting could have an effect on vulnerable people, but there are options open to those who need shelter which do not involve occupying somebody else's property without permission. Our proposed consultation exercise on tackling squatting will encourage views from charities and other organisations which have regular contact with the homeless and other vulnerable people. We will consider all the responses carefully before reaching a final decision on the shape of any future legislation.

Young Offender Institutions

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what changes are to be made to the (a) physical fabric and (b) staffing of HM Young Offender Institution Stoke Heath as a result of the decision to re-role it as a adult category C prison.

Crispin Blunt: Stoke Heath was constructed as a male category C adult prison and is maintained to category C standard. Therefore, there are no plans to carry out any physical changes to the fabric of the buildings. The only planned change on the site is to introduce additional fencing.
	A review of staffing will take place to establish appropriate levels to take account of the change to the offender profile.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Animal Experiments: Primates

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made in implementing the recommendation of the Weatherall report on the use of non-human primates in research that(a)consideration should be given to the creation of UK centres of excellence for non-human primate research and(b)a systematic review of the outcome of research using non-human primates over the last decade should be conducted by the major funders of such research.

David Willetts: In its report on the use of non-human primates in research, the expert group chaired by Professor Sir David Weatherall made 16 recommendations.
	The fourth recommendation was:
	“As part of their ongoing programmes to assess the outcomes of their research, the major funding organisations should undertake a systematic review of the outcome of all their research using non-human primates supported over the last decade”.
	I am informed that the results of a review jointly commissioned and funded by the Medical Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Research Council, Wellcome Trust and the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research are due to be published in late July.
	These results should provide the evidence base for work on Professor Weatherall's fourteenth recommendation, namely that:
	“The major funding bodies, together with the government, other stakeholders, scientists, primatologists, vets, and welfare specialists, should give careful consideration to the creation of UK centres of excellence for non-human primate research”.

Apprentices: Kent

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships were started in (a) Dartford constituency and (b) Kent in each year since 2005.

John Hayes: Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship starts for Dartford parliamentary constituency and Kent local authority in academic years 2005/06 to 2009/10, the latest years for which full year data is available.
	
		
			 Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts by geography, 2005/06 to 2009/10 
			  2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 
			 Kent local authority 3,060 3,700 4,440 4,310 5,020 
			 Dartford constituency 240 280 330 330 330 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Geography information is based upon the home postcode of the learner. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 23 June 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Banks: Loans

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on how many occasions he has met the Federation of Small Businesses to discuss the cost of bank finance.

Mark Prisk: As with all key stakeholders and partners, I meet with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) frequently both bilaterally and through forums such as the Small Business Economic Forum which I chair and which meets quarterly, bringing together Ministers and small and medium-sized enterprise representative bodies together with other ad hoc participants such as the banks. My discussions with the FSB encompass a broad range of subjects, including the cost of bank finance.

Business

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of small and medium-sized businesses surveyed by his Department and its predecessor cited regulation as an obstacle to growth in (a) each year since 2005 and (b) 2011 to date.

Mark Prisk: BIS surveys do not collect information on the proportion of small and medium-sized businesses (SME) citing regulations as an obstacle to growth. However, the BIS Small Business Survey provides information on the percentage of SME employers (with one-249 employees) that cite i) regulation as the biggest single obstacle to business success and ii) cite regulation as a general obstacle to business success. The survey was conducted in 2005, 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2010 only and therefore data for these years is shown in table 1 of this answer.
	Data for 2011 is available from the February 2011 BIS Business Barometer Survey and is shown in table 2 of this answer.
	
		
			 Table 1 
			 Year of survey Percentage of SME employers citing regulations as the biggest single obstacle to business success Percentage of SME employers citing regulations as general obstacle to business success 
			 2005 12 39 
			 2006/07 14 60 
			 2007/08 12 59 
			 2010 7 47 
			 Source: BIS Small Business Surveys 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2 
			 Month/Year of survey February 2011  : Percentage 
			 Percentage of SME employers citing regulations as the biggest single obstacle to business success 8 
			 Percentage of SME employers citing regulations as general obstacle to business success 47 
			 Source: BIS Business Barometers

Business

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of small and medium-sized businesses surveyed by his Department and its predecessor indicated that they believed their concerns were taken into account by the Government in (a) each year since 2005 and (b) 2011 to date.

Mark Prisk: The BIS Small Business Survey asked SME employers whether they felt that the Government takes into account the concerns of small businesses. The following table shows that in 2007/08 (the latest survey which asked this question), 10% of SME employers agreed that Government took into account their concerns “very much” or “quite a lot”.
	
		
			 Extent to which businesses felt Government takes into account the concerns of small businesses 
			 Percentage 
			  2005 2006/07 2007/08 
			 Not at all 37 34 35 
			 A little 48 50 50 
			 Quite a lot 8 9 9 
			 Very much 1 1 1 
			 Don't know 5 5 5 
			 Source: BIS Small Business Surveys 2005 - 2007/08, SME employers only

Business

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what indicators he plans to (a) monitor and (b) report on in determining the effectiveness of his policies on (i) encouraging small business growth, (ii) improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises and (iii) developing better regulation.

Mark Prisk: The Department has published a set of performance indicators in its business plan. This is available on the transparency section of the Number10.gov.uk website.
	The indicators will be reported in the departmental annual report and through a quarterly data summary. Both of these will be published shortly.

Business Link

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the level of market penetration achieved by Business Link in each financial year since 2003-04.

Mark Prisk: The regional development agencies who manage the Business Link regional service in England have reported the following levels of business assisted (i.e. businesses receiving at least two hours of tangible support), for each of the financial years since responsibility for delivering the service was devolved to them. This information has enabled BIS to assess the market penetration quoted as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Number of businesses assisted Number of businesses in England Estimated market penetration  (1 )  (  %  ) 
			 2004/05 491,349 n/a n/a 
			 2005/06 554,513 n/a n/a 
			 2006/07 610,334 n/a n/a 
			 2007/08 590,079 n/a n/a 
			 2008/09 733,722 n/a n/a 
			 2009/10 756,908 3,839,835 19.7 
			 2010/11 584,197 3,883,875 15.0 
			 (1) Market penetration is calculated by dividing the number of businesses assisted by the number of businesses in England at the start of each year. 
		
	
	In addition, the national Business Link website provider has since 2006 has produced estimates of market penetration achieved through the web based on regular telephone surveys of 6,000 businesses by an independent market research agency. These are as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Estimated market penetration  (1)   (  %  ) 
			 2005/06 6 
			 2006/07 11 
		
	
	
		
			 2007/08 11 
			 2008/09 12.5 
			 2009/10 14 
			 2010/11 20 
			 (1) Market penetration, was defined by the national Business Link website provider as ‘owner-managers’ of existing businesses between 2005 and 2010, and in 2011 this definition was extended to include; other individuals within a business and pre-starts or self-employed.

Business Link

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what levels of customer satisfaction were recorded in Business Link operator customer satisfaction surveys in each financial year since 2003-4.

Mark Prisk: The regional development agencies who manage the Business Link regional service in England have reported customer satisfaction rates (%) since 2003-04 as follows:
	
		
			  Satisfied (  %  ) 
			 2003/04 86.1 
			 2004/05 89.6 
			 2005/06 90.7 
			 2006/07 90.8 
			 2007/08 89.7 
			 2008/09 88.9 
			 2009/10 89.1 
		
	
	In addition, the national Business Link website provider has since 2006 reported customer satisfaction rates (%) for the web as follows:
	
		
			  Satisfied (  %  ) 
			 2005/06 74 
			 2006/07 88 
			 2007/08 92 
			 2008/09 91 
			 2009/10 93 
			 2010/11 97

Business: Debts

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the level of demand for debt finance among small and medium-sized enterprises.

Mark Prisk: The Department has recently published its Small Business Survey for 2010 which is available on the Department's website.
	The survey shows that 26% of small and medium enterprises employers (ie excluding sole traders) had tried to obtain external finance in the previous 12 months. It also shows that medium-sized businesses (40%) were much more likely to seek finance than small (33%) or micro businesses (25%).
	Of those that applied for finance, 40% applied for a bank loan and 35% for a bank overdraft. 9% each sought a grant or leasing/hire-purchase, and 6% a mortgage for property purchase or improvement.

Business: Finance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the (a) Regional Venture Capital Fund and (b) Investment Readiness Pilots.

Mark Prisk: The Department has published two evaluations reports on the Regional Venture Capital Funds (RVCF) and Early Growth Funds (EGF), which are available on the Department's website: “RVCF and EGF interim evaluation: qualitative research paper” (2009), and “RVCF and EGF interim evaluation: recipient businesses and stakeholder surveys: summary paper” (2010).
	The Department has also published an assessment of the 2004 Investment Readiness Pilots in the report “Evaluation of the investment readiness demonstration projects and fit4finance”, also available on the Department's website.
	This led to the design of a Solutions for Business product known as the Understanding Finance for Business product, which has recently been evaluated in the “2010 Solutions for Business—Cross-product monitoring survey”.

Business: Finance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to reduce variations in levels of access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises between disadvantaged and other areas.

Mark Prisk: The Government have established a £1.4 billion Regional Growth Fund to help those areas and communities that are currently dependent on the public sector make the transition to sustainable private-sector led growth. The Regional Growth Fund has approved, subject to due diligence, a contribution of £30 million to a £60 million wholesale fund for the community development finance sector that make small loans to small and medium-sized enterprises particularly from disadvantaged groups and communities.
	The 2011 Budget also announced the Government's intention to continue the Community Investment Tax Relief scheme which encourages investment in businesses in disadvantaged communities.

Business: Government Assistance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of small and medium-sized businesses surveyed by his Department and its predecessor indicated that they were satisfied with Government services for businesses in (a) each year since 2005 and (b) 2011 to date.

Mark Prisk: The BIS Small Business Survey asks small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) employers that had had contact with Government and its agencies during the previous 12 months about their satisfaction with the way the contact was handled, in relation to several different processes.
	Table 1 as follows shows the proportion of SME employers saying they were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their Government contact, for the years when the Small Business Survey included this question. These data are not available for 2010 or 2011.
	
		
			 Table 1: Proportion of SME employers 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with the way government handled contact relating to various processes 
			 Percentage 
			  2005 2006/07 2007/08 
			 VAT processes 74 69 71 
			 Other taxes 67 65 65 
			 Claiming grants 57 47 54 
			 Companies House 80 80 82 
			 Patenting 69 63 71 
			 Obtaining business advice 64 69 72 
			 Regulation enforcement 56 60 59 
			 Consultations or surveys 64 64 61 
			 Employee related 69 73 77 
			 Source: BIS Small Business Surveys 2005-2007/08, SME employers only 
		
	
	However, in the BIS Business Barometer survey for November 2010 SME employers that had received general information and advice about running their business in the past 12 months mainly from the public sector were asked how satisfied they were with the information they found. Data for November 2010 is shown in Table 2 as follows.
	
		
			 Table 2: Satisfaction with information found for SME employers, who received  advice mainly from the public sector 
			  Percentage 
			 Very satisfied 26 
			 Fairly satisfied 37 
			 Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 16 
			 Fairly dissatisfied 15 
			 Very dissatisfied 6 
			 Source: BIS Business Barometer, Nov-10, SME employers

Business: Loans

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2011, Official Report, column 391W, on business: loans, what definition of a stretch lending target he uses.

Mark Prisk: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham East (Chris Leslie) on 22 June 2011, Official Report, column 344W.

Business: Regulation

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to (a) provide information on and (b) increase levels of satisfaction with sources of advice and support for small and medium-sized businesses on compliance issues.

Mark Prisk: The Government are improving www.businesslink.gov.uk to provide online business information and tools tailored to businesses needs, including better, clearer information on Government regulation. The independent Anderson Review of Guidance addressed the question of how the Government should best provide guidance to small and medium-sized businesses on how to comply with the law and reported in January 2009. The report and government response are posted on this Department's website at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/better-regulation/reviewing-regulation/anderson-review-of-guidance-provision
	A revised version of the Government's code of practice was published in October 2009 to reflect the recommendations of the review and is available at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/better-regulation/code-of-practice-on-guidance-on-regulation
	The code of practice states what is expected from Departments and Regulators when issuing guidance on how to comply with the law and includes the requirement for a feedback contact to be provided so that guidance can be improved and to assess the level of satisfaction with the guidance.

Business: Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which employment regulations fall within his proposed moratorium for micro-businesses.

Edward Davey: The moratorium will exempt micro and start up businesses from new domestic regulation for the next three years. As new employment regulations within the scope of the moratorium are brought forward in this period the exemption will be applied.

Business: Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the effects of employment regulations on micro-businesses; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The recent Growth Review considered burdens on business, particularly smaller business, leading to a three-year moratorium on new domestic regulation for micro businesses and start-ups and the launch of the Red Tape Challenge. The Government's Employment Law Review continues to seek to reduce burdens on employers, especially micros and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Companies: Annual Reports

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward proposals for the simplification of the annual reports and financial statements of companies; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), will consult on proposals to simplify the narrative reporting framework in July.

Departmental Buildings

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the address is of each office property occupied by his Department outside Greater London which it (a) owns and (b) rents; what the level of utilisation is of each such property; what the capital value is of each such property it owns; and what the (i) annual rental cost and (ii) length of lease agreement is of each rented property.

Edward Davey: The table lists the property occupied by the Department outside Greater London. The Department does not own any property, the buildings are either leased or have memorandum of terms of occupation (MOTO) agreements with another Government Departments.
	
		
			 Property  Length of Lease Level of utilisation  (Sq m) Annual rent  (£ + VAT) 
			 Newtown House, Maid Marion Way, Nottingham NG1 7ES Leased 19 July 2005 to 18 July 2010 26 27,648.00 
			 Queensway House, West Precinct, Billingham TS23 2NF Leased 1 September 2007 to 23 June 2013 20.03 40,000.00 
			 Alexandra House, Lawnswood Park, Leeds LS16 6QY Leased 16 July 1990 to 15 July 2015 47.97 95,617.00 
			 Piccadilly Place, London Road, Manchester M13 BN MOTO 9 September 2008 to 8 September 2023 10.31 74,819.50 
			 Companies House, Crown Way, Maindy, Cardiff CF14 3UZ MOTO 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2011 17.98 107,244.88 
			 Exchange House, 60 Exchange Road, Watford WD189 OLL MOTO 29 September 2009 to 28 September 2012 22.86 94,489.56 
			 Europa Building, 450 Argyle Street, Glasgow G2 8LG MOTO 1 January 2010 to 22 December 2016 11.43 105,837.04 
			 2 St Paul's Place, 125 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 2FJ MOTO 1 June 2010 to 31 May 2013 10.08 199,710.00

Departmental Data Protection

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to promote visual data security in his Department; and what training his Department provides to its officials in respect of the management of visual data security.

Edward Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills takes the protection and security of its data very seriously and takes a number of measures to ensure that sensitive information is protected when being displayed on visual display units (VDUs). These include strict rules regarding: the use of IT equipment outside of the office (including when travelling/working overseas); and the use of mobile phones and similar devices both on and off its estate.
	In addition, the Department's VDUs are programmed to ‘lock’ if no activity is detected for a short period and staff are instructed to manually lock their screens when leaving their desks. The need to ensure visual data security is considered as part of any office accommodation moves.
	Staff are trained regarding all aspects of data handling and security through a variety of ways including: induction courses; regular briefing and training events; articles on the Department's intranet site and; ad hoc reminders as and when considered necessary.

Domestic Service: Conditions of Employment

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Government plans to ratify the Convention on Domestic Work agreed at the 100th session of the International Labour Conference.

Edward Davey: The Government take the protection of all vulnerable workers as a matter of the utmost importance. The UK provides comprehensive employment and social protections to domestic workers, and as a rule does not differentiate between domestic workers' rights and those of other workers.
	While we fully support the principles in the new convention, the Government have no plans to ratify it. This is because the final text would not provide sufficient flexibility to meet the UK's needs in a few areas, including health and safety law where the UK differentiates for good reason between domestic workers and other workers. For example, the Government do not consider it proportionate or practical to extend criminal health and safety law, including inspections, to private households employing domestic workers. This would place a huge regulatory and administrative burden on individuals, and could have detrimental social consequences: for example, if increased burdens were to prevent elderly or disabled individuals from employing nurses or carers in their own homes.

English Language: Leicester

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many students were enrolled in English for Speakers of Other Languages courses in (a) Leicester South constituency and (b) Leicester local authority area in each year since 2005-06;
	(2)  what funding his Department provided for English for Speakers of Other Languages courses in (a) Leicester South constituency and (b) Leicester local authority area in each year since 2005-06.

John Hayes: Table 1 shows the number of Government-funded learners in Leicester South constituency and Leicester local authority participating on an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course from 2005/06 to 2009/10, the latest year for which full-year data are available.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of learners participating on ESOL courses in Leicester South constituency and Leicester local authority, 2005/06 to 2009/10 
			  2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09  (1) 2009/10  (1) 
			 Leicester South constituency 2,450 2,200 1,910 1,660 1,920 
			 Leicester local authority 6,370 5,970 5,460 4,880 5,500 
			 (1) Figures for 2008/09 onwards are not directly comparable to earlier years as the introduction of demand led funding has changed how data is collected and how funded learners are defined. More information on demand led funding is available at http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/datadictionary/businessdefinitions/Demand+Led+Funding.htm Notes: 1. This data covers participation in Learner Responsive, Apprenticeships, Train to Gain, Adult Safeguarded Learning and University for Industry provision. Further Education/Learner Responsive provision includes General Further Education Colleges including Tertiary, Sixth Form Colleges—Agricultural and Horticultural Colleges and Art and Design Colleges, Specialist Colleges and External Institutions. 2. Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Geography is based on learners home postcode. Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	Information on participation on ESOL courses is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 23 June 2011:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
	Information on historical ESOL funding at the local geography level is not available. However, the Skills Funding Agency publish information on adult (19 years +) allocations made to individual colleges, providers and employers for each academic year available at the following link:
	http://skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/providers/programmes/

EU Trade: India

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with representatives of (a) the EU and (b) the Indian government on the proposed free trade agreement between the EU and India.

Edward Davey: Ministers and officials regularly discuss the EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the Indian Government, the European Commission and EU member states. Most recently, on 20 June 2011, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), discussed the FTA and pressed for action on UK priorities with Anand Sharma, India's Minister of Commerce.

Howard Davies Review of Enterprise and the Economy in Education

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the Howard Davies Review of Enterprise and the Economy in Education.

Mark Prisk: The Review of Enterprise and the Economy in Education was published in 2002. It recommended that every pupil spends five days gaining experience of enterprise, that work experience undertaken by 15 and 16-year-olds provides more enterprise and business experience, and that every school links up with local businesses.
	The top-down and directive way in which these recommendations were implemented has not been effective. That is why I have already announced a new strategy for engaging young people in school, further education and university in real enterprise activities. The strategy will support:
	expansion of the Tenner Tycoon scheme;
	development of resources to enable teachers to create and extend school businesses;
	access for schools to local enterprise champions; and
	creation of student enterprise societies in every university and the majority of further education colleges.

International Labour Organisation Convention on Domestic Workers

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what legal advice he received prior to the abstention of the UK from the vote on the International Labour Organisation Convention on Domestic Workers; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: As with any negotiations on an international agreement, the Government obtained legal advice in relation to the International Labour Organisation Convention on Domestic Workers.

International Labour Organisation Convention on Domestic Workers

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether any UK legislation contravenes the provisions of the International Labour Organisation Convention on Domestic Workers.

Edward Davey: The Government take the protection of all vulnerable workers as a matter of the utmost importance. The UK provides comprehensive employment and social protections to domestic workers, and as a rule does not differentiate between domestic workers' rights and those of other workers.
	While we fully support the principles in the new convention, the final text would not provide sufficient flexibility to meet the UK's needs in a few areas, including health and safety law where the UK differentiates for good reason between domestic workers and other workers. For example, the Government do not consider it proportionate or practical to extend criminal health and safety law, including inspections, to private households employing domestic workers. This would place a huge regulatory and administrative burden on individuals, and could have detrimental social consequences: for example, if increased burdens were to prevent elderly or disabled individuals from employing nurses or carers in their own homes.

Investment Trusts: New Businesses

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many equity investments there were in start-up and early-stage businesses (a) in each year since 2005 and (b) in 2011 to date.

Mark Prisk: The British Venture Capital Association (BVCA) publish statistics on the number of Early Stage Venture Capital investments in the UK made by their members in their annual activity report. Collating the figures suggests the following number of investments each year:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2005 491 
			 2006 500 
			 2007 502 
			 2008 455 
			 2009 285 
			 2010 323 
		
	
	Care should be taken in interpreting the figures due to changes in methodology between different surveys; for instance, 2009 and 2010 figures specifically exclude later stage venture capital which may be included in the earlier figures.

Metals

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2011, Official Report, column 629W, on metals: imports, what the results were of his Department's monitoring of issues across Government concerning rare earth metals; and what representations he has received from industry on this matter.

Mark Prisk: The Government as a whole are actively working to monitor the issues surrounding access to and supply of strategic metals including rare earth metals. This Department and DEFRA are continuing to discuss resource risks with a wide range of UK businesses to help shape Government policy, and UK interventions at EU and international level.

New Businesses: Finance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of small businesses reported to his Department difficulties in obtaining finance for start-up and growth in (a) each year since 2005 and (b) 2011 to date.

Mark Prisk: The Department undertakes periodic large scale telephone surveys of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) called the ‘Small Business Survey’. The figures on the proportion of small business employers unable to access finance taken from the three most recent surveys are set out in the following table.
	No Small Business Surveys were conducted at the height of the credit crunch. However, during 2008 and 2009 the Department undertook smaller but more regular surveys of SMEs called the SME Business Barometer. These resurveyed 500 SME employers from the Small Business Survey to get regular feedback about the issues they face.
	The Small Business Survey and BIS Barometer survey results are available at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/enterprise-and-business-support/analytical-unit/research-and-evaluation/cross-cutting-research
	
		
			 Small Business Survey Of those seeking finance, % unable to obtain any finance from any source % of all SME employers that can not obtain any finance 
			 2010 21 5 
			 2007/08 8 2 
			 2006/07 9 2

Self-employed: Industrial Health and Safety

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if his Department will assess the merits of implementing the recommendation of the Davidson Review that the Health and Safety Executive that the self-employed should be exempted from certain health and safety legislation in low-risk sectors.

Mark Prisk: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 20 June 2011, Official Report, column 114W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Simon Kirby).

Small Businesses

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of small businesses were engaged in research and development in each year since 2005.

David Willetts: The following table sets out the percentage of small businesses that were engaged in research and development (R and D) in each year since 2005. A small business is defined as one with 0-49 employees and the percentages are of the total population of small businesses. Figures are provided by the Office for National Statistics, whose usual practice is not to provide specific numbers. This is because in cases where there are a very small number of respondent firms with a particular answer, it may be possible to identify those firms.
	
		
			  Proportion of small businesses engaged in R&D (percentage) 
			 2005 0.5 
			 2006 0.6 
			 2007 0.7 
			 2008 0.6 
			 2009 0.7 
			 Notes: 1. Data come from the UK Business Enterprise Research and Development (BERD) survey. This is an annual sample survey based on a continually updated register of R and D performers conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). 2. R and D and related concepts follow internationally agreed standards defined by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), published in the ‘Frascati’ Manual. R and D is defined as “Creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications”. 3. The BERD survey goes to a sample of the R and D population, consisting of known R and D performers. This population is refreshed each year from filter questions on the biennial Community Innovation Survey and the Annual Business Survey. The percentages provided above have been obtained from the BERD data and the Inter Departmental Business Register data for the relevant size bands and industries.

Small Businesses

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of small businesses in the (a) manufacturing and (b) services sector were engaged in research and development in each year since 2005.

David Willetts: The following table sets out the percentage of small businesses that were engaged in research and development (R and D) in the manufacturing and services sectors in each year since 2005. A small business is defined as one with 0-49 employees and the percentages are of the total population of small businesses. Figures are provided by the Office for National Statistics, whose usual practice is not to provide specific numbers. This is because in cases where there are a very small number of respondent firms with a particular answer, it may be possible to identify those firms.
	
		
			 Proportion of small businesses engaged in R   and   D 
			 Percentage 
			  2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
			 Manufacturing 2 2.4 2.7 2.6 2.7 
			 Services 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 
			 Notes: 1. Data come from the UK Business Enterprise Research and Development (BERD) survey. This is an annual sample survey based on a continually updated register of R and D performers conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). 2. R and D and related concepts follow internationally agreed standards defined by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), published in the ‘Frascati’ Manual. R and D is defined as “Creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications”. 3. The BERD survey goes to a sample of the R and D population, consisting of known R and D performers. This population is refreshed each year from filter questions on the biennial Community Innovation Survey and the Annual Business Survey. The percentages provided above have been obtained from the BERD data and the Inter Departmental Business Register data for the relevant size bands and industries.

Small Businesses

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of businesses with (a) fewer than 10 employees, (b) between 10 and 99 employees and (c) between 100 and 499 employees were engaged in research and development in each year since 2005.

David Willetts: The following table sets out the percentage of businesses that were engaged in research and development (R and D) in each year since 2005, split by number of employees. The percentages are of the total population of businesses of the respective size band. Figures are provided by the Office for National Statistics, whose usual practice is not to provide specific numbers. This is because in cases where there are a very small number of respondent firms with a particular answer, it may be possible to identify those firms.
	
		
			 Proportion of businesses engaged in R   and   D 
			 Percentage 
			  2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
			 Less than 10 employees 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 
			 10 to 99 employees 2.5 3.6 4.1 3.6 4.1 
			 100 to 499 employees 14.5 17.2 18.3 15.6 17.6 
			 Notes: 1. Data come from the UK Business Enterprise Research and Development {BERD) survey. This is an annual sample survey based on a continually updated register of R and D performers conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). 2. R and D and related concepts follow internationally agreed standards defined by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), published in the ‘Frascati’ Manual. R and D is defined as “Creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications”. 3. The BERD survey goes to a sample of the R and D population, consisting of known R and D performers. This population is refreshed each year from filter questions on the biennial Community Innovation Survey and the Annual Business Survey. The percentages provided above have been obtained from the BERD data and the Inter Departmental Business Register data for the relevant size bands and industries. 4. R and D data for 2010 will be published in December 2011.

Small Businesses

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to assist small business start-ups in Beckenham.

Mark Prisk: Promoting enterprise is part of the Mayor's Economic Development Strategy for London and is supported by the Greater London authority (GLA) in conjunction with the pan-London Local Enterprise Partnership, which the GLA is in the process of establishing together with London business and the London boroughs.
	This year, the GLA has launched of a programme of Business Bootcamps, in partnership with the Royal Bank of Scotland and Capital Enterprise which will support around 1,000 London entrepreneurs to access sector-specific support targeted at the needs of their start up business. The Mayor has also funded the British Library Intellectual Property centre to help it continue its work supporting London's small businesses start-ups.
	BIS are also undertaking a major programme to change the way people can get the information, guidance and support they need to start and run a business. These will be available to start-ups across England and include:
	a dedicated 'Getting Started area' providing online training within a revamped Business Link website;
	a contact centre to help those who cannot find the information they need on the web or who are not connected to the internet;
	working alongside the British Bankers Association and mentoring providers to establish a network of business mentors offering practical advice to those who want to start or grow a business;
	establishing a new Business Coaching for Growth Programme to enable small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with high growth potential to realise their potential; and
	a renewed and streamlined portfolio of publicly-funded business improvement products through the Solutions for Business portfolio providing focused support to SMEs and start-ups.

Small Businesses: Loans

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the level of bank lending to small businesses in Wales.

Mark Prisk: Figures published in May by the Bank of England show that the UK's five largest banks lent £16.8 billion to UK Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the first quarter of this year, against a target of £76 billion of new lending in 2011. This means they are currently not on track to meet the targets agreed to in Project Merlin—a situation which the Government will continue to monitor closely to consider whether it is necessary to take any further action.
	SME lending data collected by BIS and published by the Bank of England in “Trends in Lending” shows that demand for credit remains at historically low levels, but that credit availability had increased slightly for businesses overall. The Bank of England's Credit Conditions Survey 2011 Q1 noted that SMEs overall were experiencing tighter conditions than large corporates, though for those with strong asset positions or cashflows they had improved.
	The Department does not, at present, collect information by region and country, but we are not aware of any disparities. The British Bankers Association (BBA) has committed to funding an independent quarterly survey of SMEs on access to finance and also to publish a more detailed dataset on lending. The results of the first survey will be available in July 2011, and the survey should provide more qualitative information on regional lending. The first enhanced dataset on lending should be published in the autumn and will provide more quantitative information on regional lending. In both cases, regional breakdowns will be made available.
	We also continue to monitor the level of lending through the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme, which is aimed at small businesses without collateral or a track record. In Wales, since January 2009, 635 businesses have been offered loans through the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, with a total value of £56.15 million. Of these, 550 have been drawn down, totalling £47.77 million.

South East England Development Agency: Hampshire

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which sites are owned by the South East of England regional development agency within the boundaries of (a) Basingstoke and Deane borough council, (b) East Hampshire district council, (c) Eastleigh borough council, (d) Fareham borough council, (e) Gosport borough council, (f) Hart district council and (g) Havant borough council.

Mark Prisk: South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) owns the following sites within the boundaries of:
	(d) Fareham borough council
	Deadalus (part), Lee-on-the-Solent.
	(e) Gosport borough council
	Deadalus (part), Lee-on-the-Solent
	Gosport Business Centre
	Frater Gate Business Park, Gosport.
	(g) Havant borough council
	Land at Harts Farm Way, Havant.
	No sites owned by SEEDA are within the boundaries of Basingstoke and Deane borough council; East Hampshire district council; Eastleigh borough council or Hart district council.

South East England Development Agency: West Sussex

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which sites are owned by the South East of England regional development agency within the boundaries of (a) Adur district council, (b) Arun district council, (c) Chichester district council, (d) Crawley borough council, (e) Horsham district council, (f) Mid Sussex district council and (g) Worthing borough council.

Mark Prisk: South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) own the following sites within the boundary of Adur district council:
	Ropetackle, Shoreham; and
	Adur Business Centre, Shoreham.
	No sites owned by SEEDA are within the boundaries of Arun district council; Chichester district council; Crawley borough council; Horsham district council; Mid Sussex district council and Worthing borough council.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Audit Commission

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2011, Official Report, column 663W, on the Audit Commission, if he will place in the Library a copy of the itemised bill for the Audit Commission Board dinner at Bentley's Seafood restaurant.

Bob Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to respond to my hon. Friend direct.
	Letter fro Eugene Sullivan, dated 28 June 2011:
	Your parliamentary question outlined above has been passed to me for reply.
	The Commission does not hold an itemised bill for this event.

Audit Commission: Flowers

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Audit Commission spent on the purchase of flowers for display between January 2007 and May 2010.

Bob Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to respond to my hon. Friend direct.
	Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 28 June 2011
	Your parliamentary question has been passed to me for reply.
	The Audit Commission spent £6,535.13 on the purchase of flowers for display between January 2007 and May 2010. We purchased the flowers for reception areas in our London, Bristol and Leicester offices. We stopped buying flowers for the Leicester office in July 2009. We stopped buying flowers for the Bristol and London office in September 2010. A breakdown of flower purchases for each office is shown below:
	
		
			 £ 
			 Office January to   Dec  ember   2007 January to   Dec  ember   2008 January to   Dec  ember   2009 Jan  uary  to   May 2010 Total 
			 London 1,710.00 1,560.00 1,559.88 649.95 5,479.83 
			 Bristol 122.81 418.34 198.22 15.93 755.30 
			 Leicester (1)— (1)— 300.00 0.00 300.00 
			 Total 1,832.81 1,978.34 2,058.10 665.88 6,535.13 
			 (1) Records no longer available

Commission for Local Administration in England

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) complaints were considered, (b) complaints were resolved within three months and (c) members of staff were employed by the Local Government Ombudsman in each of the last five years.

Bob Neill: The data in the following table relates to the number of complaints forwarded to the Local Government Ombudsman's investigative teams for investigation.
	
		
			   Complaints determined within 13 weeks  
			  Complaints investigated by the Local Government Ombudsman Number Percentage Average full time equivalent number of staff employed by the Local Government Ombudsman 
			 2006-07 13,069 6,221 46.6 201 
			 2007-08 13,458 7,362 54.7 190 
			 2008-09 11,687 6,241 53.4 185 
			 2009-10 10,309 5,856 56.8 187 
			 2010-11 9,983 5,411 54.2 224

Conditions of Employment

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with (a) officials in his Department, (b) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and (c) outside organisations on the potential effects of changes arising from the review of employment law on matters within his Department's responsibilities.

Bob Neill: Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet colleagues from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to discuss a range of matters. Similarly, discussions are had with officials and Ministers on the whole range of departmental responsibilities.
	So far as I am aware, Ministers in this Department have had no recent discussions with outside organisations on this specific topic.

Council Tax: Rates and Rating

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria the Valuation Office Agency applies in determining the order in which valuation appeal hearings are to be heard.

Bob Neill: The arrangement for the listing of appeals is a statutory duty of the President of the Valuation Tribunal for England—Regulation 5 of The Valuation Tribunal for England (Council Tax and Rating Appeals)(Procedure) Regulations 2009—and not the Valuation Office Agency. Appeals are listed within six weeks of the Valuation Office Agency's target date under the programming scheme they adopt.

Departmental Buildings

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the address is of each office property occupied by his Department outside Greater London which it (a) owns and (b) rents; what the level of utilisation is of each such property; what the capital value is of each such property it owns; and what the (i) annual rental cost and (ii) length of lease agreement is of each rented property.

Bob Neill: The Department's office properties are leased so there are no capital values to report. Details of the leased properties outside of Greater London, including the address, the annual rental value, length of the lease and the utilization figures are set out in the following table.
	In the last year the Department has taken action to dispose of its residual property liabilities as quickly as possible. We have reduced running costs by over £4 million per annum through the assignment and sub-letting of surplus accommodation. By the end of September 2011 the Department will have completed the surrender of three major buildings delivering an additional £6.3 million per annum in savings.
	The Department holds office property outside of London for three purposes:
	1. Accommodation for continuing functions including the ERDF programmes, resilience, internal audit, town planning.
	2. Accommodation for back office services carried out by Finance (Hemel Hempstead) and Records Management (Hastings).
	3. Buildings comprising the Government Office Network residual property estate are held pending disposal.
	The Department also holds two specialised non-office properties previously occupied by the Fire Experimental Unit at the Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh and Hanger 97 at Little Rissington airfield, Gloucestershire. Again these properties are held pending disposal.
	
		
			 Belgrave Centre, Nottingham 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 4,095 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) 0 
			 Annual rent (£) 1,690,594 
			 Note: The lease expires in July 2011 
		
	
	
		
			 Cunard Building, Liverpool 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 3,507 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) 0 
			 Annual rent (£) 381,294 
			 Note: The lease expires in September 2011 
		
	
	
		
			 Queen Street, Leeds 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 3,302 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) 1,996 
			 Annual rent (£) 670,023 
			 Note: The lease expires in 2014 
		
	
	
		
			 77 Paradise Circus Queensway, Birmingham 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 3,463 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) 1,800 
			 Annual rent (£) 681,778 
			 Note: The lease expires in 2014 
		
	
	
		
			 Mast House, Plymouth 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 1,645 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) 1,461 
			 Annual rent (£) 323,257 
			 Note: There is a lease break in 2016 
		
	
	
		
			 Westbrook Suites 8, 9 and 10 Cambridge 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 602 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) 602 
			 Annual rent (£) 128,304 
			 Note: The lease expires in 2013. 
		
	
	
		
			 Bridge House, Guildford 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 3,587 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) 2,748 
			 Annual rent (£) 786,676 
			 Note: The lease expires in October 2015 
		
	
	
		
			 Citygate, Newcastle 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 6,095 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) 48 
			 Annual rent (£) 1,438,865 
			 Note: The lease expires in 2019 
		
	
	
		
			 Lateral, Leeds 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 5,612 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) 2,875 
			 Annual rent (£) 1,516,099 
			 Note: The lease expires in 2022 
		
	
	
		
			 5 St Philip's Place, Birmingham 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 6,024 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) 1,630 
		
	
	
		
			 Annual rent (£) 2,039,878 
			 Note: The lease expires in 2020 
		
	
	
		
			 Eastbrook Centre, Cambridge 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 5,195 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) 2,500 
			 Annual rent (£) 1,793,119 
			 Note: There is a lease break in 2018 
		
	
	
		
			 2 Rivergate, Bristol 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 6,440 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) 1,128 
			 Annual rent (£) 1,853,766 
			 Note: There is a lease break in 2022 
		
	
	
		
			 Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester—Sharing with Tenants Services Authority 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 104 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) (1)— 
			 Annual charge for rent rates, utilities and services (£) 93,600 
			 (1) All used Note: The occupation agreement can be terminated on 12 month's notice at any time. 
		
	
	
		
			 Arpley House, Warrington—Sharing with Homes and Communities Agency 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 328 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) (1)— 
			 Annual charge for rent rates, utilities and services (£) 174,420 
			 (1) All used Note: The occupation agreement can be terminated on 12 month's notice at any time. 
		
	
	
		
			 Vulcan House, Sheffield—Sharing with Home Office 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 77 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) (1)— 
			 Annual charge for rent rates, utilities and services (£) 27,584 
			 (1) All used Note: The occupation agreement can be terminated on 12 month's notice at any time. 
		
	
	
		
			 Cumberland House, Nottingham—Sharing with Homes and Communities Agency 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 280 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) (1)— 
			 Annual charge for rent rates, utilities and services (£) 147,405 
			 (1) All used Note: The occupation agreement can be terminated on 12 month's notice at any time. 
		
	
	
		
			 Longbrook House, Exeter—Sharing with HM Revenue and Customs 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 120 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) (1)— 
		
	
	
		
			 Annual charge for rent rates, utilities and services (£) 27,106 
			 (1) All used Note: The occupation agreement can be terminated on 12 month's notice at any time. 
		
	
	
		
			 Lysnoweth, Truro  —  Sharing with HM Revenue and Customs 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 104 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) (1)— 
			 Annual charge for rent rates, utilities and services (£) 17,574 
			 (1) All used Note: The occupation agreement can be terminated on 12 month's notice at any time. 
		
	
	
		
			 Princes Parade, Liverpool  —Sharing with the Charities   Commission 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 250 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) (1)— 
			 Annual charge for rent rates, utilities and services (£) 100,143 
			 (1) All used Note: The occupation agreement can be terminated on 12 month's notice at any time. 
		
	
	
		
			 Temple Quay House Bristol—Sharing with the Planning Inspectorate 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 574 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) (1)— 
			 Annual rent (£) 165,212 
			 (1) All used Note: The occupation agreement can be terminated on 12 month's notice at any time. 
		
	
	
		
			 Hempstead House, Hemel Hempstead 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 1816 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) 580 
			 Annual rent (£) 276,000 
			 Note: The lease expires in 2013 
		
	
	
		
			 Ashdown House, Hastings 
			  m  (2)  /£ 
			 Total floor area (m(2)) 350 
			 Space being marketed (m(2)) (1)— 
			 Annual charge for rent rates, utilities and services (£) 50,438 
			 (1) All used Note: Leave after a minimum one year's notice served before 31 March in each year.

Departmental Data Protection

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to promote visual data security in his Department; and what training his Department provides to its officials in respect of the management of visual data security.

Bob Neill: The principal holding of visual data in DCLG is the visual product of CCTV systems. Such data are managed in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act. The data are handled by security guards who have achieved the appropriate Security Industry Authority endorsed qualification (Level 2 award in CCTV Operations—public space surveillance) and who are licensed by the Security Industry Authority to handle such data.

Departmental Manpower

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy to publish monthly information on changes in the numbers of employees of his Department's agencies, categorised by (a) seniority, (b) voluntary redundancy, (c) natural wastage and (d) involuntary redundancy.

Bob Neill: The Government are committed to transparency and the availability of data and are currently exploring options for the more frequent publication of this type of work force management information across the civil service and its agencies.
	The Department and its agencies already publish detailed headcount data, senior salaries and organograms and financial, property and procurement information with the Office for National Statistics and in conjunction with the wider commitment to publish data via HM Treasury for publication on the data.gov.uk website.

EU Grants and Loans: Yorkshire and the Humber

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2011, Official Report, column 50W, on EU grants and loans: Yorkshire and the Humber, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the funding from the European Regional Development Fund allocated to Yorkshire and the Humber and not yet committed is spent within the region; and over what period the euro 326,521,131 not yet committed is available.

Bob Neill: My Department monitors the progress of European Regional Development Fund programmes in meeting their annual spend targets. The Yorkshire and Humber Development Fund programme has, so far, met its annual spend targets and we will continue to monitor its progress in meeting the 2011 target. The programmes have until 31 December 2015 to complete spending the funds.

EU Grants and Loans: Yorkshire and the Humber

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many applications from Yorkshire and the Humber for funding from the European Regional Development Fund are under consideration.

Bob Neill: A total of 101 applications for funding from the Yorkshire and Humber European Regional Development Fund programme are currently under consideration.

EU Grants and Loans: Yorkshire and the Humber

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he has taken to facilitate the transition from the regional development agency to his Department of the decision-making process on applications to the European regional development fund from Yorkshire and the Humber.

Bob Neill: We are retaining the European regional development fund team, currently employed by Yorkshire Forward, to ensure continuity in the process of appraising and approving projects.

EU Grants and Loans: Yorkshire and the Humber

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff of his Department will be handling applications to the European Regional Development Fund from Yorkshire and the Humber in that region from 1 July 2011.

Bob Neill: The final figure will not be known until 1 July, the date of transfer, but our current expectation is that 27 staff will be managing the European Regional Development Fund in that area.

EU Grants and Loans: Yorkshire and the Humber

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the potential for delay in the decision-making process on applications to the European regional development fund from Yorkshire and the Humber; and what steps his Department is taking to minimise any such delay.

Bob Neill: We anticipate minimal delay in the decision-making process on European regional development fund applications, because we are retaining the development fund team, currently employed by Yorkshire Forward.

EU Law

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 his Department is responsible; and what European directives for which his Department is responsible have come into force since 1 April 2010.

Bob Neill: The directives in force on 1 April 2010 for which this Department is responsible, as lead Department are:
	Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (85/337/EEC)
	Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002/91/EC)
	Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (2001/42/EC).
	This Department is also responsible for implementing parts of the following directives, but is not the lead Department on them:
	Public Participation Directive (2003/3 5/EC)
	Professional Qualifications Directive (2005/36/EC)
	Framework Directive (89/391/EEC)
	Workplace Directive (89/654/EEC)
	Chemical Agents Directive (98/24/EC)
	Explosive Atmospheres Directive (99/92/EC).
	For the last four directives on the list, the Department's responsibility is confined to the general fire safety precautions at work aspects of the directives.
	There are no directives that have come into force since 1 April 2010 for which this Department is responsible.

Fire Services

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects the Government to publish its response to the consultation on the FiReControl Project.

Bob Neill: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 16 June 2011, Official Report, column 927W, to the hon. Member for Derby North (Chris Williamson).

Fire Services: Pensions

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the reform of fire service pension schemes.

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with Ministers in HM Treasury on proposed reforms to fire service pension schemes.

Bob Neill: Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet colleagues from Her Majesty's Treasury to discuss a range of matters.

Fire Services: Public Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if he will assess the effects of the timing of his announcement of the formula grant funding to be made available to fire and rescue services in 2014-15 on the ability of such services to make provision for continuity of service; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he has issued guidance to the fire and rescue service on changes to service delivery resulting from the comprehensive spending review; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 January 2011, Official Report, column 305W. I also refer him to my letter to fire and rescue authorities on the spending review of 20 October 2010, a copy of which is already in the Library of the House.

Fire Services: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many rescues from fires the Fire Service carried out in the West Midlands in each of the last five years.

Bob Neill: The numbers of people rescued from fires by firefighters in the West Midlands in each of the last five years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Rescues from fires by firefighters in the West Midlands, 2006-07 to 2010-11  (1) 
			  2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11  (1) 
			 Hereford and Worcester (2)— (2)— (2)— 23 26 
			 Shropshire (2)— (2)— (2)— 20 19 
			 Staffordshire (2)— (2)— (2)— 54 42 
			 Warwickshire (2)— (2)— 13 27 21 
			 West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority 175 155 132 138 169 
			 West Midlands n/a n/a n/a 262 277 
			 (1) Provisional. (2) Numbers of rescues are not held centrally for most Fire and Rescue Services prior to April 2009. Source: Fire and Rescue Incident Databases, DCLG

Hartlepool Borough Council

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Department's policy is on allowing Hartlepool borough council to change its model of local authority governance from elected mayor to (a) leader and cabinet and (b) councillor committee structure; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The people of Hartlepool voted in a referendum to have an elected mayor. It is open to the people to vote in a referendum to change this governance model, statute providing that any such referendum can be held only after 10 years from the initial referendum.

Homelessness: Sunderland

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households in Sunderland Central constituency were classed as homeless in the last 12 months.

Grant Shapps: Homelessness data are not collected at constituency level.
	Information about local authorities' discharge of their duties under homelessness legislation is collected on quarterly PIE returns. Summary information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected at local authority level, and published by the Department in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available both in the Library of the House and via the DCLG website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
	Data collected include the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to ensure that suitable accommodation is available). If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority must secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available and this information is also collected.
	Local authority level tables giving this information for 2010-11 are published in live table 784 at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1918724.xls
	Information is also collected on rough sleeping. Since 1998, only councils in areas with a known, or suspected, rough sleeping problem were required to conduct an official rough sleeper count—which meant that only 70 councils submitted information to central Government. Figures published in July 2010 showed that under this previous method, on any given night there were 440 rough sleepers in England. However, the coalition Government wanted a more complete measure of rough sleeping and when the remaining 256 councils provided estimates of the scale of the problem in their areas, this added a further estimated 807 rough sleepers—taking the national total to 1,247 rough sleepers on any given night.
	Rough sleeping figures are published by the Department on the DCLG website and are given by local authority in the table 2 at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1845849.xls
	Under new guidance all councils across England will now provide information on rough sleeping. This move follows consultation with homelessness charities and councils and is aimed at getting a clearer picture of the scale of the problem in each area so more targeted support can be provided to some of the most vulnerable in society.

Housing: Thames Gateway

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 19 March 2008, Official Report, column 1206W, on housing: Thames Gateway, how many new additional dwellings were provided throughout the entire Thames Gateway in each year between 2001-02 and 2009-10.

Grant Shapps: The number of additional homes provided in the Thames Gateway in each of the years from 2001-02 to 2009-10 is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2001-02 5,440 
			 2002-03 5,980 
			 2003-04 6,610 
			 2004-05 7,040 
			 2005-06 7,520 
			 2006-07 6,720 
			 2007-08 7,510 
			 2008-09 5,930 
			 2009-10 7,780 
			 Total 60,530

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he proposes that local enterprise partnerships should hold their board meetings in public.

Bob Neill: holding answer 27 June 2011
	Local enterprise partnerships are locally led partnerships of business and civic leaders, coming together to provide clear vision and strategic leadership to drive sustainable economic growth. The constitution and legal status of each partnership will be a matter for the partners, informed by the activities that they wish to pursue. We expect partnerships to be fully open and transparent but it is for local areas to decide what reporting mechanisms are appropriate. Governance structures will need to be sufficiently robust and clear to ensure proper accountability for delivery.

Local Government Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received on regional differences in the application of formula grants in the (a) most and (b) least deprived areas; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The Local Government Finance settlement for 2011-2012 was approved by the House of Commons on 9 February 2011. A large number of representations were received covering all aspects of the settlement, including funding for deprived areas.
	The Government recognise that some areas of the country are much more reliant on central Government grant than others and that these tend to be more deprived communities. The settlement therefore ensures that the weight given to levels of need in the formula has been increased, so that more money follows socio-economic indicators, and Transition Grant funding, some £96 million in 2011-12, is going to the most dependent areas.

Non-domestic Rates

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will assess the likely effects of extending the eligibility criteria for small business rate relief.

Bob Neill: Small Business Rate Relief is funded by a supplement on the rate bills of larger businesses. It is therefore important to strike a fair balance between the interests of ratepayers receiving the relief and ratepayers funding the relief. We believe that the scheme does that and therefore have no plans to extend the eligibility criteria.
	We have, however, doubled the level of Small Business Rate Relief for two years, until 30 September 2012. Eligible ratepayers with rateable values below £6,000 will pay no rates at all for that period, while ratepayers with rateable values between £6,000 and not more than £12,000 receive tapered relief from 100% to 0%. The Government are fully funding the extra costs of the relief.

Planning Permission

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many expressions of interest in establishing a neighbourhood plan his Department has received from each local authority area.

Bob Neill: Through the Neighbourhood Planning Front Runners scheme, we have invited all local planning authorities to apply for grants of up to £20,000 to prepare a neighbourhood-level plan in close collaboration with the local community. The number of project proposals so far received by the Department from each local planning authority is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Local authority Number of applications 
			 Allerdale 1 
			 Arun 1 
			 Birmingham 2 
			 Blaby 1 
			 Breckland 1 
			 Brentwood 1 
			 Bristol 3 
			 Broadland 6 
			 Cherwell 2 
			 Cheshire East 4 
			 Cheshire West and Chester 1 
			 Cornwall 1 
			 Crawley 1 
			 Dacorum 1 
			 East Lindsey 2 
			 East Northamptonshire 2 
			 Enfield 1 
			 Exmoor National Park Authority 1 
			 Gateshead 1 
			 Gedling 1 
			 Hartlepool 1 
			 Herefordshire 2 
			 High Peak/Staffordshire Moorlands 1 
			 Hinckley and Bosworth 1 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1 
			 Lake District National Park Authority 1 
			 Lewes 1 
			 Lincoln 1 
			 Melton 2 
			 Milton Keynes 4 
			 Mole Valley 1 
			 Newark and Sherwood 1 
			 North Kesteven 1 
			 North Somerset 1 
			 North Tyneside 1 
			 Northumberland County 1 
			 Northumberland National Park Authority 1 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1 
			 Rushcliffe 1 
			 Shropshire 5 
			 South Gloucestershire 1 
			 South Holland 1 
			 South Norfolk 1 
			 South Northamptonshire 1 
			 South Somerset 1 
			 Southwark 2 
			 St Helens 1 
			 Sunderland 1 
			 Sutton 1 
			 Swale 1 
			 Swindon 1 
			 Teignbridge 1 
			 Telford and Wrekin 3 
			 Torbay 1 
			 Uttlesford 1 
			 West Dorset 2 
			 West Lindsey 1 
			 Wiltshire 2 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 2 
			 Wirral 2 
			 Wolverhampton 3

Planning Permission: St Albans

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning appeals were submitted because of non-determination by St Albans District Council in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Bob Neill: The following table shows the number of planning appeals submitted because of non-determination by St Albans District Council in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Number 
			 2006-07 2 
			 2007-08 1 
			 2008-09 3 
			 2009-10 0 
			 2010-11 9 
			 Total 15

Shops: Empty Property

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assistance his Department has provided to towns with high rates of empty shops in each of the last three years.

Bob Neill: The coalition Government are taking action to support our town centres in recognition of their significant economic, social, and tourism benefits. We are determined to strengthen the ability for local communities to decide what development they want in their area and recognise that town centres are at the heart of our communities and neighbourhoods.
	We have introduced additional small business rate relief for two years from October 2010 which will help small firms and small shops, and reflect the fact that business rates are often the third biggest outgoing after staff and rent.
	We are consulting on changes to the use class order, which would include allowing empty commercial premises to be converted into residential use.
	We are committed to retain a 'town centre first' planning policy, which recognises the importance of achieving a broad range of retailer representation, both small and large, and asks local authorities to plan for a strong retail mix so that the quality of retail on offer meets the needs of the local area. This will continue to be strongly expressed through the forthcoming national planning policy framework which is due to be published later this summer.
	Mary Portas has been asked by Government to lead an independent review into the future of the high street. It will identify what government, local authorities and businesses can do to promote the development of more prosperous and diverse high streets, recognising that town centre vacancy rates have doubled over the last two years. The review will identify what Government, local authorities and businesses can do to promote the development of more prosperous and diverse high streets, and will be reporting later in the year.
	Information on the policy decisions of the last administration can be found on the National Archives web archive, including a press release dated 14 April 2009.

Social Services: Finance

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has met the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss the potential implications for local authority funding of the forthcoming Dilnot Commission report.

Bob Neill: holding answer 27 June 2011
	The report by the Commission on the Funding of Care and Support, chaired by Andrew Dilnot, will be published on 4 July. The Government will consider the implications of the report, including the costs of proposed reforms, once the final recommendations have been received.

Sonae: Fires

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on which dates the Fire Service has been called to the Sonae factory in Kirkby in the last 10 years; what the estimated cost to the Fire Service of each such callout was; and whether Fire Service personnel sustained any injuries during each such callout.

Bob Neill: The Department holds records of all individual incidents attended by Fire and Rescue Services since the introduction of the Incident Recording System, which Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service implemented on 1 April 2008. These records show that incidents were attended on 18 October 2009, 8 July 2010, 13 October 2010 and 7 December 2010.
	Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has advised that it has attended a total of 28 incidents at the Sonae factory in Kirkby since February 2000, that some minor injuries to Fire and Rescue Service staff were sustained at these, and that estimates of the cost of attendance have not been made.

Third Sector

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many hours Ministers in his Department spent volunteering in the last 12 months as part of the Government's big society initiative.

Bob Neill: Charitable giving is a personal matter for individuals, although it is encouraged by Government. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the right hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), and his ministerial team, like all Government Ministers, have pledged to undertake a "one day challenge" with a charity or community group of their choice. This is a clear and public commitment by Ministers to give their time to help others. The pledge aims to inspire others to consider how they might be able to support their communities to benefit themselves, as well as their chosen organisations.
	As an example of how Ministers are contributing to the wider giving agenda, the Government are strongly supporting initiatives that help to raise aspirations in schools. These include the "Speakers for Schools" initiative, which aims to get inspirational high profile people from a range of backgrounds to speak for free in state schools. The scheme is non-political and has significant cross-party support.
	A list of the charities and voluntary groups that Ministers are closely involved with can also be found in the Cabinet Office's List of Ministers' Interests, at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/ministers-interests.pdf

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Allowances

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what expenses were claimed by (a) paid and (b) unpaid special advisers working in his Department in the last 12 months.

Alan Duncan: The special advisers at the Department for International Development (DFID) have claimed no expenses in the last 12 months.
	DFID has no unpaid special advisers.

Developing Countries: Food

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department plans to contribute to the World Bank's food price stability fund for the developing world.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development has not provided any funding to the World Bank's Group's Global Food Crisis Response Program (GFRP), other than indirectly through our core contributions to the World Bank's International Development Association which co-funds the GFRP.

Developing Countries: Health

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the effects on public health in developing countries of provision of frontline nurses, midwives and doctors funded by development aid.

Stephen O'Brien: According to the World Health Organisation, there is a global shortage of 3.5 million health workers worldwide. Africa alone needs 1.5 million. The UK recognises that a strong health work force is essential for well functioning health systems in developing countries. I attended and spoke at a Save the Children UK Midwives and Development Supporters event on 1 April 2010.
	The UK will continue to help countries to develop their own health care systems in a way that suits their needs and contexts, including support to country efforts to build and maintain health worker capacity.

Fire Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will bring forward proposals to increase the grant given by his Department to those fire and rescue services who participate in the United Kingdom Fire Service International Search and Rescue Team; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) pays for the deployment of UK fire and rescue service personnel to disasters overseas. DFID also makes a regular payment to enable the UK fire and rescue service to maintain readiness for international search and rescue. Although this facility draws on the services of several UK brigades, this payment is handled on behalf of those brigades by the Lincolnshire fire and rescue service, through which DFID pays £241,230 for the period 2009 to 2012. DFID and the UK fire and rescue service keep this amount under review jointly. At present both DFID and the UK fire and rescue service find it sufficient and therefore have no immediate plans to increase it.

India: Climate Change

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the objectives are of his Department's Climate Change and Energy Unit in India.

Andrew Mitchell: The UK's approach to climate change in India is a joint unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth office (FCO), the Department for International Development (DFID), the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). It works with the Government of India and other partners to promote a credible, fair and ambitious global agreement for climate change mitigation and adaptation; rapid investment in low-carbon growth; and increased resilience of the poor to the impact of climate change.

India: Overseas Aid

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of aid to India delivered through the private sector he plans to provide in the form of (a) grants, (b) concessional loans and (c) other loans up to 2015.

Andrew Mitchell: We are still discussing the details of our proposed support through the private sector including the financing mechanisms, with the Government of India.

India: Overseas Aid

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of aid allocated by his Department to India he plans to spend in (a) Orissa, (b) Madhya Pradhesh, (c) Bihar and (d) West Bengal in the period up to 2015.

Andrew Mitchell: Our plans are still under discussion with the Government of India, but I envisage that about two-thirds of the Department for International Development's (DFID's) work in India between now and 2015 will support three of India's poorest states—Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his priorities are for the outcomes of aid provided by his Department to North Sudan.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) will deliver assistance to both Sudan and South Sudan, after the latter's independence on 9 July 2011. In Sudan, over the next four years UK assistance intends to deliver: (i) nutrition support for 6 million people; (ii) sustainable access to clean water and sanitation for 800,000 people; and (iii) access to justice services such as legal aid for 250,000 people. Further results will be announced in DFID's operational plan for Sudan which will be published in July.

EDUCATION

Academies

Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of academies were operating under the 2003 national agreement on raising standards and tackling workload in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 23 June 2011
	The Department does not collect data of this nature from academies or from maintained schools prior to acquiring academy status. Academies are not subject to the statutory pay and conditions arrangements for teachers as laid out in the School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document, including any subsequent changes that were made to the document resulting from the national agreement. They are, however, free to adopt their provisions if they wish to do so.

Academies

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many representations he has received (a) in support of and (b) against the expansion of the academies scheme since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 27 June 2011
	The academies programme is enormously popular. 1,244 schools have applied to be an academy since June 2010 and 430 have converted already and opened as academies. Research findings are clear that increasing autonomy is linked to raising standards and the latest GCSE results show that standards in academies continue to improve faster than the national average. There remain, of course, those who are opposed to the expansion of the academies programme, but the Government are clear about its benefits and I am delighted that so many schools governors and head teachers also recognise this and are applying for their schools to become academies.

Children

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the reasons were for the transfer to his Department of all responsibilities relating to services for vulnerable children; and what assessment he has made of the effect of that transfer on children.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 17 June 2011
	Decisions about ministerial responsibilities and machinery of government are for the Prime Minister of the day. Areas of policy relating to vulnerable children were transferred to predecessors of the Department for Education by the previous Administration in line with the policy approach set out in the Green Paper ‘Every Child Matters’. No evaluation has been made of the impact of the transfer.

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what the caseload of each Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service region was on the most recent date for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many cases were unallocated in each Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service region on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Tim Loughton: At the end of May 2011 there were 13 unallocated public law care cases out of a total caseload of 12,779, and 268 unallocated private law cases out of a total caseload of 26,881. The following table shows the size of caseload and the number of unallocated cases for each CAFCASS operational area.
	
		
			  Public law care Private law 
			 CAFCASS operational area Unallocated cases Total caseload Unallocated cases Total caseload 
			 North operational area 0 3,296 11 6,763 
			 Central operational area 5 5,640 48 11,003 
			 South operational area 8 3,843 159 9,054 
			      
			 CAFCASS intake team 0 0 50 61 
			 National 13 12,779 268 26,881 
		
	
	Data are taken from the CAFCASS management system as a snapshot on 31 May 2011.

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to the recommendations of the Family Justice Review in respect of the future of the function of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service within his Department.

Tim Loughton: The Family Justice Review panel's recommendations on the future of court social work services form part of its interim proposals, published in March 2011. The panel is conducting a wide-ranging consultation on these proposals before presenting its final report in the autumn. The Government will consider these final recommendations before deciding how to implement reforms to the family justice system.

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service: Finance

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the budget for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service will be for 2011-12.

Tim Loughton: The budget for Children and Family Court Advisory Service in 2011-12 is £128 million.

Children: Private Care

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what statutory responsibilities county councils have for children in private care.

Tim Loughton: The Children Act 1989 and the Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations 2005 set out the responsibilities of local authorities for children in private fostering arrangements. This includes requirements for regular visits to the child and carer(s) and assessments of the arrangement. Additionally, it outlines the authority's obligation to raise awareness of private fostering locally and the need for carers, parents and other persons involved to notify the authority of arrangements as well as monitoring their own practice.

Children: Social Services

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for future recruitment of children's social workers; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: Since the introduction of the social work degree in 2003 there have been steady increases in the numbers enrolling in social work education to the current level of approximately 5,500 per annum.
	The Social Work Reform Board—facilitated by DfE, DH and BIS —is working to improve the quality of social work education and to ensure that the best entrants are attracted to and selected for the degree. They are also developing a tool to help monitor the supply and demand of social workers which will enable better work force planning by employers and higher education institutions.
	Other steps we are taking to ensure a supply of high calibre children and families social workers include the Step Up to Social Work scheme which provides employer-led social work training for career changers, and the Return to Social Work scheme to support those who have spent some time away from the profession to return to practice.
	In her recent report on child protection Professor Munro also made recommendations on improving the quality of social work training to ensure that social work students are prepared for the challenges of child protection work. We are currently considering her recommendations and will publish our response by the summer.

Classroom Assistants: Training

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of people entering teaching assistant training courses in each year since 2005.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 20 June 2011
	The available information relates to the number of candidates who have achieved standards to be awarded the HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) status.
	The following table provides this information for 2005/06 to 2009/10, as well as provisional figures for 2010/11.
	
		
			  2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11  (1) 
			 England—cumulative total 14,880 20,180 25,790 31,160 37,280 38,670 
			        
			 North East 510 330 300 330 330 50 
			 North West 1,110 650 680 610 710 230 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 900 700 700 600 700 200 
			 East Midlands 700 450 560 510 590 70 
			 West Midlands 760 530 540 580 710 130 
			 East of England 680 510 530 620 710 180 
			 London 500 610 670 590 630 170 
			 South East 1,100 870 920 880 940 240 
			 South West 960 670 690 660 810 120 
			 (1) Provisional. Notes: 1. Includes candidates who have achieved standards to be awarded the HLTA status, and not the total number as registered as looking for assessment to standard. 2. Totals may not appear to equal the sum of component parts as numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: TDA's HLTA database

Conditions of Employment

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had with (a) officials in his Department, (b) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and (c) outside organisations on the potential effects of changes arising from the review of employment law on matters within his Department's responsibilities.

Nick Gibb: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has taken a keen interest in the review of employment law, particularly in the areas that are of most relevance to the Department. In support of this officials from the Department are in touch with their counterparts in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to make sure that the work force reforms of both Departments are coherent and consistent.

Departmental Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress his Department has made in encouraging small businesses to bid for Government contracts.

Tim Loughton: The Department is currently implementing the package of support to open up Government procurement to help small and medium-sized enterprises and third sector organisations announced by the Cabinet Office in February 2011.
	This includes streamlining the procurement process to remove unnecessary bureaucracy and waste, improving the transparency of public procurement opportunities and ensuring the timely payment by contractors to sub-contractors.
	The Department already advertises all relevant contracts on Contracts Finder, flags up any contract advert placed in the Official Journal of the European Union if there may be sub-contracting opportunities for SMEs, uses simplified contractual documentation, encourages innovation through output based specifications, splitting requirements into smaller lots, encourages the use of consortia, publicises issued tender documents and contracts on Contracts Finder and supports new businesses through flexibility on qualifying documentation, e.g. financial accounts,
	Our SME Action Plan is available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/policiesandprocedures/procurement/a0077623/small-and-medium-enterprise-sme-procurement-action-plan
	Our records for the year ending March 2010 show that the value of contracts awarded to SMEs was 26% of total procurement spend which exceeds the Government's target of 25% and we expect that percentage to increase during 2011/12 as a result of the action we are taking.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what regulations his Department introduced between 1 March 2011 and 31 May 2011; and what the estimated costs of implementation for those affected were in each case.

Tim Loughton: In the period 1 March 2011 to 31 May 2011 the Department for Education made 20 statutory instruments. In addition, one statutory instrument came into force in that period although it was made before it. The statutory instruments are set out in the following tables.
	In relation to the majority of those statutory instruments, it was envisaged that there would be little or no impact upon business, charities, voluntary bodies or the public sector as explained in the Explanatory Memorandum for each.
	In the case of the two statutory instruments listed, impact assessments were carried out which identified the likely costs implications associated with their implementation. These impact assessments can be viewed using the links provided.
	The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011
	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2010/9780111503850/pdfs/ukdsiem_9780111503850_en.pdf
	The Visits to Former Looked After Children in Detention (England) Regulations 2010
	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2797/pdfs/uksiem_20102797_en.pdf
	The following statutory instruments were made and came into force between 1 March 2011 and 31 May 2011:
	
		
			 Title Made Laid In force 
			 The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 2 March 2011 10 March 2011 1 April 2011 
			 The Data Protection Act 1998 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2011 2 March 2011 n/a 2 March 2011 
			 The Education (Head Teachers' Qualifications) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 2 March 2011 9 March 2011 1 April 2011 
			 The Arrangements for Placement of Children by Voluntary Organisations and Others (England) Regulations 2011 3 March 2011 10 March 2011 1 April 2011 
			 The Children's Homes (Amendment) Regulations 2011 3 March 2011 10 March 2011 1 April 2011 
			 The Childcare (Exemptions from Registration) (Amendment) Order 2011 3 March 2011 10 March 2011 1 April 2011 
			 The Adoption Agencies and Independent Review of Determinations (Amendment) Regulations 2011 3 March 2011 10 March 2011 1 April 2011 
			 The Teachers' Pensions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2011 3 March 2011 9 March 2011 1 April 2011 
			 The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011 9 March 2011 n/a 1 April 2011 
			 The Education (Free School Lunches) (Prescribed Tax Credits) (England) (Amendment) Order 2011 10 March 2011 16 March 2011 6 April 2011 
			 The Education (Residential Trips) (Prescribed Tax Credits) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 10 March 2011 16 March 2011 6 April 2011 
			 The School Finance (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 14 March 2011 18 March 2011 10 April 2011 
			 The Visits to Children in Long-Term Residential Care Regulations 2011 29 March 2011 31 March 2011 25 April 2011 
			 The Children, Schools and Families Act 2010 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2011 1 April 2011 n/a 1 April 2011 
			 The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No. 2) Order 2011 21 April 2011 n/a 21 April 2011 
			 The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (England) (Amendment) Order 2011 26 May 2011 n/a 26 May 2011 
		
	
	The following statutory instruments were made between 1 March 2011 and 31 May 2011 but will come into force after 31 May 2011:
	
		
			 Title Made Laid In force 
			 The Education (School Performance Targets) (England) (Revocation) Regulations 2011 24 March 2011 31 March 2011 1 September 2011 
			 The St Mary's College, Middlesbrough (Dissolution) Order 2011 1 April 2011 7 April 2011 31 July 2011 
			 The Academies Act (Commencement No. 2) Order 2011 25 April 2011 n/a 1 August 2011 
			 The Education (Nutritional Standards and Requirements for School Food) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 28 April 2011 5 May 2011 1 September 2011 
			 The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (Consequential Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2011 26 May 2011 2 June 2011 30 June 2011 
		
	
	The following statutory instrument was made before 1 March 2011 but came into force between 1 March 2011 and 31 May 2011:
	
		
			 Title Made Laid In force 
			 The Visits to Former Looked After Children in Detention (England) Regulations 2010 19 November 2010 25 November 2010 1 April 2011

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the name is of each regulatory measure revoked by his Department between 1 March and 31 May 2011; and what estimate he has made of the potential annual saving to those affected by each revocation.

Tim Loughton: In the period 1 March 2011 to 31 May 2011, the Department for Education made two revoking statutory instruments. These are as follows:
	
		
			 Title Made Laid In force 
			 The Education (School Performance Targets) (England) (Revocation) Regulations 2011 24 March 2011 31 March 2011 1 September 2011 
			     
			 The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No. 2) Order 2011 21 April 2011 n/a n/a 
		
	
	The Education (School Performance Targets) (England) (Revocation) Regulations 2011
	These regulations revoke the following regulations in full:
	The Education (School Performance Targets) (England) Regulations 2004;
	The Education (School Performance Targets) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005;
	The Education (School Performance Targets) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006;
	The Education (School Performance Targets) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007;
	The Education (School Performance Targets) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008; and
	The Education (School Performance Targets) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009.
	They also revoke Regulation 3 of the Education (Local Authority and School Performance Targets) (Revocation and Amendment) (England) Regulations 2010.
	The main effect of the regulations is to revoke the Education (School Performance Targets) (England) Regulations 2004, releasing schools from the bureaucratic burden of setting annual education performance targets and submitting these to the local authority for approval. Local authorities are also no longer required to provide school targets information to the Secretary of State. However, the saving associated with removing this bureaucratic burden has not been quantified.
	The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No. 2) Order 2011
	This order revokes the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) Order 2011. It designates specified independent schools as having a religious character. As such they are permitted to take account of certain religious or denominational considerations in making specified employment decisions which relate to teaching staff (such as decisions on appointment or promotion). No annual saving will be brought about by the revocation of this order.

Education: Finance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding he expects to allocate in respect of new 16 to 19 bursaries in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15; and whether plans to raise the education participation age to 17 in 2013 and 18 in 2015 were taken into consideration as part of these calculations.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 12 May 2011
	The following table shows the funding allocated to the 16 to 19 bursary fund—including transitional support for those currently in receipt of the education maintenance allowance—in each financial year of the current spending review period:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 
			 Transitional support 124.1 70.1 — — 
			 16 to 19 bursary fund 77.0 158.5 180.0 180.0 
			      
			 Total 201.1 228.6 180.0 180.0 
		
	
	We will keep the mechanism for allocating these funds under consideration as the raising of the participation age takes effect in order to make sure that that the funding continues to reach and support those students with the greatest need.

Education: ICT

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to utilise mobile application technologies in the delivery of education services to the public.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 21 June 2011
	The Department for Education does not currently have any specific programmes using mobile applications to deliver education. The Government believe that effective use of technology can help raise educational standards, but that those working in the sector are best placed to make decisions about how to use the resources available to them—including technology. There is a vibrant market for educational software and content in the UK, including mobile applications and many schools and families take advantage of them. The Department's procurement frameworks for ICT in schools allow for flexibility and innovation in the delivery of content and resources to students, including the support of mobile devices.

English Baccalaureate

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration his Department has given to extending the humanities element of the English Baccalaureate to include a choice of two humanities subjects from history, geography and religious studies.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 22 June 2011
	We are considering a range of propositions that have been made to us over the content of the English Baccalaureate. We will announce the detailed composition of the English Baccalaureate for 2011 along with other details about the 2011 tables before the end of term.

EU Law

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 his Department is responsible; and what European directives for which his Department is responsible have come into force since 1 April 2010.

Nick Gibb: There are no EU directives in force for which the Department for Education has lead responsibility.

Free School Meals: Worcestershire

Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils are eligible for free school meals in (a) Worcestershire and (b) Worcester constituency.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			 State-funded primary and secondary schools  (1, 2, 3)   and special schools  (4)  : Free school meal eligibility  (5, 6)  , a  s at January 2011  , i  n Worcestershire local authority and Worcester parliamentary constituency 
			  State-funded primary schools  (1, 2) State-funded secondary schools  (1, 3) Special schools  (4) 
			  Number on roll  (5) Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming for free school meals  (5, 6) Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming for free school meals  (5, 6) Number on roll  (5) Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming for free school meals  (5, 6) Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming for free school meals  (5, 6) Number on roll  (5) Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming for free school meals  (5, 6) Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming for free school meals  (5, 6) 
			 Worcestershire local authority 36,624 5,225 14.3 32,475 3,838 11.8 958 309 32.3 
			 Worcester parliamentary constituency 6,864 1,247 18.2 5,141 687 13.4 332 92 27.7 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes primary academies. (3) Includes city technology colleges and secondary academies. (4) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools, excludes general hospital schools. (5) Includes sole and dual (main) registrations. (6) Pupils known to be eligible for and claiming tor free school meals who have full time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part-time attendance and are aged between 5 and 15. Source: School Census 
		
	
	The latest information, for January 2011, on free school meal eligibility and other school and pupil information can be found at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001012/index.shtml

Free Schools: Bristol

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many new primary school places he expects there to be in free schools in Bristol for the academic year beginning in September 2011.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 22 June 2011
	We do not expect there to be any primary school places in free schools in Bristol in September. Subject to the signing of a funding agreement there will be a secondary free school, the Bristol Free School, which will open with 150 places for year 7 pupils. In addition, subject to the signing of a funding agreement, there will be a new primary academy sponsored by E-ACT which will provide 420 places when full.

Marriage Guidance: Grants

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2011, Official Report, column 497W, on marriage guidance: grants, when he plans to commission the evaluation; what measures of effectiveness he expects to be assessed; and if he will estimate the proportion of funding spent on (a) married couples, (b) co-habiting couples, (c) civil partners, (d) other couples and (e) parents.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 20 June 2011
	Expressions of interest have already been invited from organisations to undertake the evaluation of relationship support interventions. The invitation to tender will be sent to those successful at the expression of interest stage at the end of this month. I will ensure the hon. Member receives a copy of the documentation.

Maternity Pay

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his Department's policy for staff is in respect of (a) eligibility criteria and (b) rates of pay for (i) maternity and (ii) adoption leave.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 23 June 2011
	All staff regardless of the length of service or appointment status are eligible for 28 weeks of maternity or adoption leave on full pay. All staff have the option to follow this with 24 weeks of unpaid maternity or adoption leave.

Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps Ofqual plans to take during the summer of 2011 to ensure that students do not fail to achieve their first choice university place due to errors by awarding bodies, including errors in question papers, poor initial marking or delays in processing re-marks; and if he will urge awarding bodies to make redress to students who are required to defer entry until 2012 as a result of such errors.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 17 June 2011
	This is a matter for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation and the chief executive, Glenys Stacey has written directly to the hon. Member. A copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Letter from Glenys Stacey, dated 20 June 2011
	I am writing with regard to the parliamentary question you raised on 14 June asking what steps Ofqual will be taking in advance of and during the summer 2011 to ensure that students do not fail to achieve their first choice university place due to errors by awarding bodies in papers or delays.
	Ofqual sets regulatory requirements for all awarding organisations including the requirement for awarding organisations to take corrective steps where any errors have occurred. Ofqual's expectation is that awarding organisations should be able to avoid significant errors in question papers and the marking process.
	However, in response to six specific errors appearing in question papers being taken by candidates this summer, I wrote to all awarding organisations on 7 June asking them to carry out extra quality assurance checks on all the papers which students were still to sit in the summer of 2011. Awarding organisations have confirmed that these checks have taken place.
	Ofqual has also received assurance from awarding organisations that any students who have sat one of the question papers that included a mistake can be confident that procedures are in place to make sure, that so far as is possible, no student is disadvantaged or advantaged.
	Any actions undertaken by awarding organisations will depend on the exact circumstances of individual cases. We will be monitoring awarding organisations to make sure their proposed approach and rationale is appropriate to the errors that have occurred.
	In addition, we are undertaking a daily review of data from GCE and GCSE awards and have planned early August meetings with awarding organisations to-review outcomes.
	The regulatory requirement for awarding organisations to provide an Enquiry About Results (EAR) process, once results have been published, ensures that there is an avenue for requests for the review of marks where schools or students have concerns. This includes a priority service for students wishing to query an A Level result where a university place is dependent on the outcome. This enables awarding organisations to prioritise and deal with these enquiries quickly as they appreciate the timescales involved in the admissions process to Universities and confirmation of places.
	I hope this answers your question, if you would like further discussion on this topic or any other regulatory matter, please do not hesitate to contact my PA.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  which (a) organisations and (b) individuals have made representations to his Department in connection with its internal review of personal social health and economic education; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2011, Official Report, column 695W, on personal, social, health and economic education, when he expects the remit of his Department's internal review of personal, social, health and economic education to be published; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: A range of organisations including subject associations, faith groups, charitable bodies and individuals have contacted us about the internal review of personal social health and economic education.
	We expect to publish the remit of the internal review of personal, social, health and economic education shortly.

Primary Education: Worcestershire

Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate his Department has made of the likely number of primary school places which will be required in Worcestershire in the next five years.

Nick Gibb: It is the responsibility of each local authority to manage the supply and demand for primary and secondary school places in their area and secure a place for every child of statutory school age. The Department will continue to provide capital funding and monitor the situation with local authorities to ensure there are sufficient school places.

Pupils: Absenteeism

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many parental requests for authorised absence during term time were (a) approved and (b) declined in (i) Hartlepool education authority, (ii) Stockton-on-Tees education authority, (iii) Middlesbrough education authority, (iv) Redcar and Cleveland education authority, (v) Darlington education authority and (vi) England in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education does not collect data on the number of parental requests for authorised absence during term time. The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 state that head teachers may grant leave of absence during term time. The Department looks to schools themselves to consider each request as they can only be judged on a case-by-case basis taking into account individual circumstances. We would not want to interfere with that process.
	The available absence statistics can be found in the “Pupil Absence in Schools in England, Including Pupil Characteristics: 2009/10” Statistical First Release at
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000994/index.shtml
	The authorised absence rates for Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Darlington local authorities and England for 2009/10 are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Maintained primary, state-funded secondary and special schools  (1, 2, 3)  : Pupil absence by type of school 2009/10. In Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Darlington local authorities and England 
			  Percentage of sessions missed due to authorised absence  (4)  : 
			  Maintained primary schools  (1) State-funded secondary schools  (1, 2) Special schools  (3) Total 
			 Hartlepool 4.49 5.40 6.98 4.96 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 4.57 5.S3 8.08 5.19 
			 Middlesbrough 4.67 5.57 7.72 5.11 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 4.57 5.73 9.74 5.20 
			 Darlington 4.81 5.35 6.58 5.08 
			 England 4.54 5.43 8.30 5.00 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (4) The number of sessions missed due to authorised absence expressed as a percentage of the total number of possible sessions. Source: School Census

School Meals

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the abolition of school lunch grant;
	(2)  if he will assess the effect on Bolton metropolitan borough of the abolition of school lunch grant.

Nick Gibb: The funding for schools provided through the school lunch grant has not been abolished, but continues to be available through the Dedicated Schools Grant in 2011-12. This will allow schools to make their own decisions about the use of this funding. This is in line with the Government's drive to devolve responsibility for making decisions about the best use of resources to professionals in schools.
	Consistent with our philosophy of reducing bureaucracy and increasing the professional autonomy of schools, we have no plans to collect information from individual local authorities of the impact of freeing up resources in this way.

Schools

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with the National Resource Centre for Supplementary Schools on effective safeguarding training in supplementary schools.

Tim Loughton: Officials in the Department for Education will be meeting representatives of ContinYou, the organisation which manages the National Resource Centre for Supplementary Schools, to discuss issues of safeguarding in relation to supplementary schools. No discussions have been held at ministerial level.

Schools

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the requirement in supplementary schools for (a) effective safeguarding and (b) training in behaviour management; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: I am clear that effective safeguarding and behaviour management are important in any informal out of school activities, including supplementary schools. No formal assessment has been undertaken at a national level. Local authorities are responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in their areas.

Schools

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what measures are in place to safeguard children attending supplementary schools; and how much his Department has allocated to safeguarding in supplementary schools in 2011-12.

Tim Loughton: The measures in place to safeguard children in supplementary schools are the same as those for all children in informal, out of school hours, activities and learning.
	Where the local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that a child may be at risk of significant harm the local authority must make such enquiries as are necessary to enable them to decide whether they should take any action to safeguard or promote the child's welfare(1).
	In addition, the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 made it an offence for a barred individual to work closely with children in any setting and, subject to Royal Assent of the Protection of Freedoms Bill, all supplementary schools will need to have performed a barred list check on all unsupervised workers.
	In 2006, the Department and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation agreed to provide pump-prime funding to establish a National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education (NRC). In 2009-10 the Department for Education allocated £350,000 of grant funding to the NRC and a further £95,000 was allocated in 2010-11. The funding, which ended in March this year, has allowed the NRC to develop an approach to raising the standards of teaching, learning, management and safeguarding in those supplementary schools it works with. No departmental funding is being provided in 2011-12.
	(1) Section 47, Children Act 1989, available at:
	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/section/47

Schools: Careers Guidance

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans his Department has for inspecting the quality of new schools' careers advice services.

Nick Gibb: The revised school inspection framework will have a sharp focus on the quality of teaching, backed by excellent leadership and management, and good discipline and behaviour. Ofsted will consider outcomes such as pupils' achievement and progression rather than inputs such as the type or amount of careers guidance. The introduction of new destination measures will ensure that schools are held to account for the way in which they support their pupils to progress to higher levels of education and training, or into employment.
	The Government have also accepted the recommendation of the Careers Profession Task Force to ask Ofsted to carry out a thematic review of careers guidance as a means of identifying excellent provision and establishing a baseline for future policy development. We are considering the most appropriate timing for such a review.

Schools: Food

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the policy of his Department is on the application to schools of Government buying standards on sustainably-sourced fish and seafood.

Tim Loughton: The Government Buying Standards for food and catering services are mandatory for central Government but do not apply to local authorities or individual schools.
	However, schools have to meet the statutory school food standards. The standards do not include requirements to purchase sustainably sourced fish, but this is recommended as good practice in the School Food Trust's ‘A Fresh look at Procurement—efficiency and sustainability’ guidance:
	http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/schools/resources/a-fresh-look-at-school-food-procurement-efficiency-and-sustainability

Schools: Legal Action

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have taken legal action against his Department in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 27 June 2011
	There have been two sets of legal proceedings issued against the Department by schools in the last 12 months. Both of these were judicial reviews in relation to decisions to remove independent schools from the independent schools register.

Schools: Reading West

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils at each school in Reading West constituency gained five or more GCSEs at grades of A* to C in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The information requested has been provided in the following table:
	
		
			   Number and percentage of pupils achieving 5 or more GCSEs at grades A*- C (including equivalents) in selected years 
			 Secondary schools in Reading West constituency  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School Number 75 68 71 83 102 
			  Percentage 52 46 51 61 80 
			        
			 Brookfields Special School(1) Number 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Percentage 0 0 0 0 0 
			        
			 Denefield School Number 132 127 105 122 146 
			  Percentage 64 62 50 60 71 
			        
			 John Madejski Academy(2) Number (3)— 18 34 43 58 
			  Percentage (3)— 30 47 55 58 
			        
			 Little Heath School Number 186 168 189 200 208 
			  Percentage 74 65 74 79 80 
			        
			 Pangbourne College Number 57 58 63 54 59 
			  Percentage 80 94 89 83 88 
			        
			 Prospect School Number 113 161 158 149 147 
			  Percentage 43 55 69 74 81 
			        
			 The Avenue School(1) Number 0 (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— 
			  Percentage 0 (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— 
			        
			 Theale Green Community School Number 153 166 153 162 163 
			  Percentage 69 69 70 74 71 
			 (1) These are maintained special schools. (2) Figures for the John Madejski Academy are only available from 2008. (3) Indicates figure has been suppressed due to 10 or fewer students in the institution cohort.

Schools: Sport

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of future levels of competitive sport (a) within and (b) between schools; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: The Department is reviewing the National Curriculum programme of study for physical education to make clear that competitive sport is an integral part of the rounded education that every child in maintained schools should receive.
	Subject to the outcome of the review and necessary parliamentary approval, this should ensure that all pupils aged five to 16 will play competitive sport, without exception.
	The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), is also creating the new School Games as a further way of encouraging schools to provide more competitive sport. Through a mix of intra-school, inter-school and county-level competitions, every young person will have the chance to take part. To ensure this is possible the Government are creating a number of School Games Organisers who will promote competitions.

Schools: Standards

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools achieved a rating of outstanding in their Ofsted inspections in (a) England, (b) the North West and (c) Cumbria in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 20 June 2011
	This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 17 June 2011
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
	Since 2005, maintained school inspections have been carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. Ofsted records all judgements made by inspectors in section 5 inspections, including the judgement for overall effectiveness of the school, Maintained schools inspected under section 5 include nursery, primary, secondary (including academies and city technology colleges), special schools and pupil referral units.
	Table A as follows shows the number of maintained schools judged to be outstanding for overall effectiveness at their section 5 inspection during the academic years 2005/06 to 2009/10 inclusive in England, the North West government office region and Cumbria local authority. It also shows the total number of inspections in each of these areas in each year.
	In September 2009, Ofsted implemented a policy of more proportionate inspection using risk assessment and deliberately set out to inspect a greater proportion of previously satisfactory or inadequate schools each year and a smaller proportion of previously good or outstanding schools. This led to a skew in the sample of schools inspected and means that comparisons between years should be treated with caution as some differences are due to the different sample of schools inspected during the different periods.
	Statistics covering the outcomes of all inspections carried out in each academic year since 2005/06 can be found at:
	http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Publications-and-research/Browse-all-by/Documents-by-type/Statistics/Maintained-schools/Inspection-outcomes
	The most recent official statistics release, covering the outcomes of maintained school inspections carried out during the autumn and spring terms 2010/11, was made public on 15 June 2011 and can be accessed at the same link.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for Schools, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.
	
		
			 Table A: Schools judged outstanding for overall effectiveness at the section 5 inspection in (a) England, (b) the North West and (c) Cumbria in each of the last five years 
			  Number of schools judged outstanding for overall effectiveness, and as a percentage of total number of inspections in the area 
			  2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 
			  No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 
			 Cumbria local authority 7 8 15 10 12 11 7 7 11 11 
			 North West GOR 106 11 217 17 201 18 216 22 116 13 
			 England 648 11 1,150 14 1,146 15 1,327 19 782 13 
		
	
	
		
			  Total number of inspections in academic year 
			  2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 
			 Cumbria local authority 92 145 106 96 104 
			 North West GOR 938 1,312 1,103 1,003 898 
			 England 6,128 8,323 7,866 7,065 6,171

Schools: Vocational Guidance

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what future arrangements he plans to make to ensure impartial student-centred careers advice is available to all students in schools.

Nick Gibb: Schools will be placed under a duty to secure access to independent careers guidance for their pupils from September 2012, subject to the passage of the Education Bill. The guidance must be presented in an impartial manner and in the best interests of the pupils concerned. Schools are otherwise free to determine how to fulfil the duty. This approach recognises that education professionals are best placed to make arrangements for careers guidance that fit the needs and circumstances of their students.
	We will look to schools to ensure their pupils achieve and progress, and monitor this by publishing data on the destinations that pupils move on to after school.

Schools: Vocational Guidance

Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what arrangements are in place to provide careers advice in schools and sixth-form colleges.

Nick Gibb: Under section 68 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, local authorities have a duty to assist, encourage and enable the participation in education and training of young people and relevant young adults, including through the provision of careers guidance in schools and sixth-form colleges. It is for local authorities to determine how best to fulfil this duty, taking into account local priorities and the needs and circumstances of young people in their area.
	From September 2012 (subject to the passage of the Education Bill through Parliament) schools will be under a duty to secure access to independent and impartial careers guidance for their pupils in years 9 to 11. This summer, we will consult on extending the duty to young people up to the age of 18 studying in schools, sixth-form colleges and further education institutions.
	Schools and colleges will be free to make arrangements for careers guidance for young people that fit the needs and circumstances of their students, including determining the appropriate balance between web-based, telephone and face-to-face support.

Science: GCSE

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what longitudinal research his Department has commissioned into existing interventions to encourage students to take up science subjects at GCSE level; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of such interventions.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 21 June 2011
	The Department has not commissioned any longitudinal research into the existing interventions to encourage students to take up science subjects at GCSE level.
	However, the Department part funds the Targeted Initiative on Science and Mathematics Education (TISME) along with the ESRC in partnership with the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, The Institute of Physics and the Association of Science Education. The aim of the initiative is to help find new ways to encourage children and young people to greater achievement and understanding of Science and Mathematics- related subjects. TISME is made up of five research projects, which will examine the effectiveness of past and current initiatives and what new interventions and policies offer the potential to improve participation in science (and mathematics) up to and including A level.
	The Department has published its own research from the longitudinal National Pupil Database in “Maths and science education: the supply of high achievers at A level”. This publication shows trends in entries for GCSE science and progression to A Level.

Secondary Education: Teachers

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of (a) history, (b) geography and (c) religious education lessons at Key Stage (i) 3 and (ii) 4 were taught by a teacher specialising in the subject in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: Information on the qualifications and deployment of teachers in the secondary sector was collected in the annual School Workforce Census, which took place in November 2010 for the first time. Data are presented on the proportion of hours taught by teachers with a relevant post-A Level qualification in the subject, as at November 2010.
	
		
			 Proportion of history, geography and religious education hours taught, in a typical week, to Key Stages 3 and 4 by teachers with a relevant post A level qualification in the subject  (1) 
			 Percentage 
			  Key Stage 3 Key Stage 4 
			 History 85.4 93.6 
			 Geography 84.6 93.9 
			 RE 69.1 73.0 
			 (1) Percentages are based on the number of hours being taught by teachers for whom curriculum and qualifications information was provided. Source: School Workforce Census, November 2010 
		
	
	A full list of subjects and the proportion of hours taught by teachers with a relevant qualification is available in the School Workforce Statistical First Release, available at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000997/index.shtml

Students: Finance

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department has allocated to Care to Learn for financial years (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14.

Nick Gibb: The funding allocated to the Care to Learn programme will be £38.6 million in 2011-12. Subsequent years' budgets will be confirmed in due course.

Teachers: Training

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of people entering teacher training programmes in each year since 2005.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 20 June 2011
	The requested information is given in the table:
	
		
			 Recruitment to initial teacher training (ITT), 2005/06 to 2010/11, England 
			  2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 
			 College-based ITT courses 33,700 32,460 31,350 31,220 33,040 32,170 
			 Employment-based ITT 7,220 7,370 7,010 6,590 6,460 6,100 
			 Total 40,920 39,830 38,360 37,810 39,490 38,270 
			 Notes: 1. Recruitment figures are subject to change. This table presents the latest available data. 2. Figures for college-based courses include universities, other higher education institutions, school-centred ITT and Open university. Figures for employment-based courses include the Graduate Teacher Programme, Registered Teacher Programme, Overseas Trained Teacher Programme and Teach First. 3. Totals may not appear to equal the sum of component parts as numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: TDA's ITT Trainee Numbers Census.

Teachers: Training

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teachers graduated from teacher training programmes (a) in each region and (b) from each institution in each year since 2005.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 20 June 2011
	The number of teachers gaining qualified teacher status (QTS) in each region via (a) college-based courses and (b) employment-based routes is provided in the table.
	The same information for each individual provider has been placed in the Library.
	
		
			 (a) Teachers gaining QTS via college-based courses, by Government office region, 2005/06 to 2008/09 
			  2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 
			 England 27,010 26,980 26,470 26,650 
			      
			 North East 1,360 1,310 1,220 1,320 
			 North West 4,700 5,080 4,770 4,760 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 2,900 2,800 2,930 2,710 
			 East Midlands 1,640 1,570 1,620 1,550 
			 West Midlands 2,470 2,530 2,510 2,560 
			 East of England 2,220 2,070 2,030 2,210 
			 London 5,060 4,900 4,890 4,740 
			 South East 3,530 3,530 3,440 3,630 
			 South West 2,890 2,960 2,840 2,970 
			      
			 Non-regional providers 240 240 240 210 
			 Notes: 1. Includes universities and other higher education institutions, school-centred ITT and Open university but excludes employment-based routes. 2. Totals may not appear to equal the sum of component parts as numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: TDA's Performance Profiles. 
		
	
	
		
			 (b) Teachers gaining QTS via employment-based routes, by Government office region, 2005/06 to 2008/09 
			  2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 
			 England 6,090 7,120 6,510 6,470 
			      
			 North East 180 190 220 200 
			 North West 340 400 430 420 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 380 430 380 380 
			 East Midlands 550 580 660 560 
			 West Midlands 670 720 650 690 
			 East of England 930 980 990 940 
			 London 1,290 1,620 1,260 1,250 
			 South East 1,420 1,800 1,660 1,750 
			 South West 180 350 260 280 
			      
			 Non-regional providers 150 60 10 0 
			 Notes: 1. Excludes universities and other higher education institutions, school-centred ITT and Open university. 2. Totals may not appear to equal the sum of component parts as numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: TDA's Performance Profiles.

Teachers: Training

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to maintain future numbers of teachers trained to deal with pupils' hearing impairments.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 23 June 2011
	Since 2009, additional funding has been provided for 190 teachers to acquire mandatory qualifications (MQ) in teaching pupils with sensory impairments, including pupils with hearing impairments. Of the 190, 44 teachers will receive funded hearing impairment MQ training this academic year at a cost of £13,000 per place.
	Our policy is to enable all schools, whether they are mainstream or special schools, to develop their capacity to meet the needs of children who have special educational needs or are disabled. We announced measures in the Green Paper to build professional development which included support specialist SEN training across clusters of schools. This will include further opportunities for teachers to develop skills and knowledge in teaching children with sensory impairments.

Youth Services: Finance

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much local authorities spent on the provision of youth services for the purposes of fulfilling their obligations under the Education and Inspections Act 2006 in 2010-11.

Tim Loughton: Information on local authority spend on youth services for 2010-11 has yet to be collected. The deadline for local authorities to submit their Section 251 outturn returns for 2010-11 is 25August 2011. The Department expects to publish this data by January 2012.

HEALTH

Botulism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of cases of food borne botulism poisoning in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: There have been no reported cases of foodborne botulism in the United Kingdom over the last five years, that is illness resulting from the ingestion of food containing toxin. However, there have been seven cases of infant botulism over the last five years in which food containing bacterial spores may have been a possible source.

Cancer Drugs Fund: Kent

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients received support from the Cancer Drugs Fund in the West Kent Primary Care Trust area in the latest year for which figures are available.

Paul Burstow: Information on the number of patients receiving support from the Cancer Drugs Fund is not collected centrally at primary care trust level.
	The Cancer Drugs Fund was launched on 1 April 2011 to help thousands of cancer patients access the drugs their clinicians believe will help them. We made an additional £50 million available to strategic health authorities in 2010-11 which has already helped over 2,400 patients in England to access the cancer drugs their clinicians recommended.
	Information on the use of the interim funding by each strategic health authority will be made available when confirmed.

Chiropody: Health Hazards

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many persons in each (a) age group and (b) local authority area contracted an infection in the course of receiving a pedicure in each of the last 10 years; and how many persons died as a consequence.

Anne Milton: The information requested is not available.

Cystic Fibrosis: Research

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to support gene therapy research for cystic fibrosis;
	(2)  what consideration he has given to the merits of funding the UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium trials.

Simon Burns: The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is providing funding for the work of the UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, including investment through the Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit at Imperial College and the NIHR Clinical Research Network.
	The Department supports the development of innovative technology in all types of genetic and genomic research, including cystic fibrosis, that it believes will bring health benefits to national health service patients. It set up the Human Genomics Strategy Group to monitor developments and technological advances in genetic and genomic research and to provide advice on the potential health care benefits.

Departmental Allowances

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenses were claimed by (a) paid and (b) unpaid special advisers working in his Department in the last 12 months.

Simon Burns: The special advisers at the Department have claimed no expenses in the last 12 months, although of course there has been some expenditure incurred on their behalf, for example on travel. There are no unpaid special advisers employed by the Department.

Depression

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve the (a) rate of diagnosis and (b) treatment of those with depression by primary care professionals; and if he will make a statement

Paul Burstow: The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme has created online guides for general practitioners (GPs) to help them better diagnose depression and anxiety disorders. These guides were developed with the Royal College of GPs and are currently available on the college's website.
	Also, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published a guideline, “Common Mental Health Disorders: Identification and Pathways to Care”, a copy of which has been placed in the Library and is also available at:
	http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG123
	which includes advice on the diagnosis and treatment of depression.

Depression

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has assessed the accuracy of data on the prevalence of depression contained in the Quality and Outcomes framework.

Anne Milton: Primary care trusts are currently responsible for verifying evidence for Quality and Outcomes Framework achievement. As part of this process, they should analyse recorded prevalence and compare the reported prevalence on disease registers with the expected prevalence of depression in the local population.

Depression: Kent

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people diagnosed with depression in (a) Chatham and Aylesford constituency and (b) England in each of the last five years.

Paul Burstow: The information is not available in the format requested. However, the following table shows the numbers of people with a diagnosis of depression in England, the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority (SHA), Medway Primary Care Trust (PCT) and West Kent PCT.
	
		
			 Total number of people on general practitioner (GP) lists who are aged 18+ with a diagnosis of depression 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 
			  Number Number Number Percentage 
			 England 4,112,548 4,373,974 4,648,287 10.9 
			 South East Coast SHA 311,499 346,409 374,005 10.5 
			 Medway PCT 10,158 14,329 17,807 8.3 
			 West Kent PCT 37,562 44,940 48,534 8.9 
		
	
	These figures refer to patients aged 18+ on GP practice lists who are diagnosed with depression. Figures are taken from Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) registers. Depression was introduced to the QOF in 2006-07, and depression registers have been published by the NHS Information Centre since 2007-08. QOF depression registers were presented in 2009-10 for the first time as percentages of estimated numbers of people aged 18+ on GP lists. Source QOF data do not include the number of patients aged 18+ on GP lists, only total lists sizes, hence the need for estimates.

Health

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department plans to take to (a) monitor and (b) evaluate responsibility deals;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the likely cost to the public purse of (a) establishing, (b) implementing, (c) monitoring and (d) evaluating food and drink responsibility deals.

Anne Milton: Partner organisation progress on the Public Health Responsibility Deal's pledges will be monitored through a combination of self-reporting, annual updates to the Department and may include monitoring by third parties. The exact approach taken to monitoring will vary according to the nature of the pledges.
	The Department's Policy Research Programme is currently investigating the feasibility of an independent evaluation of some elements of the Responsibility Deal. Up to £1 million may be available for this work.
	All administration costs incurred by the Department in facilitating the Public Health Responsibility Deal are met from existing budgets.
	Implementation of the Public Health Responsibility Deal pledges will be carried out by partner organisations and the costs of doing this will be incurred by these organisations.

Health

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government plans to respond to the consultation contained in the Public Health White Paper.

Anne Milton: We intend to publish the Government's response to the public health consultations shortly.

Health Education

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the name is of each company involved in funding his Department's Change4Life initiative; how much his Department expects to receive in such funding; and what assessment his Department makes of companies funding its campaign prior to the provision of funding.

Anne Milton: No partners provide direct funding for the Change4Life campaign, but they do contribute in kind support through centrally or locally-led activity, reinforcing Change4Life behaviour messages.
	The Change4Life campaign has over 200 national and 50,000 local supporters from the commercial, charity and public sectors. All national partners agree in writing to the campaign terms of engagement, in order to use the Change4Life brand assets and/or campaign tools. All partners must submit applications for any activity they wish to run, and all activity requires clearance in advance from the Department.

Health Education: Marketing

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on his Department's social marketing strategy entitled Changing Behaviour, Improving Outcomes; and how much has been allocated for expenditure on this programme.

Anne Milton: A total of £44 million has been allocated for this activity, divided between four key programmes: youth, Change4Life/older people and tobacco. Detailed plans for the delivery of these four programmes are being submitted to the Cabinet Office Efficiency and Reform Group as is our usual practice.

Hepatitis

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients (a) of each sex and (b) in each socio-economic group have received treatment for hepatitis C in the last five years;
	(2)  how many people aged (a) under 15, (b) between 15 and 59 and (c) over 59 years in each (i) strategic health authority, (ii) primary care trust and (iii) parliamentary constituency received active treatment for hepatitis C in each year since 1997.

Anne Milton: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Estimated number of patients treated for hepatitis C in England, 2004-09 
			 2004 989 to 3,867 
			 2005 1,053 to 3,832 
			 2006 3,362 
			 2007 4,087 
			 2008 4,970 
			 2009 5,488 
			 Notes: 1. The estimates are based on financial data supplied by Intercontinental Medical Statistics for each year between 2004 and 2009. 2. Data for 2004 and 2005 are provided as a range because both treatment with a single drug or two drugs were in use. 3. There are no data available on patients' socio-economic group. Source: Health Protection Agency

Hepatitis

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the prevalence of hepatitis C in people aged (a) under 15, (b) 15 to 59 and (c) over 59 years in each (i) strategic health authority, (ii) primary care trust and (iii) parliamentary constituency.

Anne Milton: The information is not available in the format requested. Such estimates as are currently available from the Health Protection Agency are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Numbers of individuals aged 15-59 estimated to be hepatitis C antibody positive in England in 2005, divided by three regions 
			  Number 
			 London 59,000 
			 North West 42,000 
			 Rest of England 102,000 
			 Total 203,000 
			 Source: Health Protection Agency

Hepatitis

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients (a) of each sex and (b) in each socio-economic group have been diagnosed with hepatitis C in the last five years.

Anne Milton: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Hepatitis C Laboratory Reports by Sex, England and Wales, 2005-09 
			  Male Female 
			 2005 4,310 2,053 
			 2006 4,836 2,262 
			 2007 5,484 2,442 
			 2008 5,742 2,694 
			 2009 5,986 2,744 
			 Total 26,358 12,195 
			 Source:  Health Protection Agency

Hepatitis

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged (a) under 15, (b) between 15 and 59 and (c) over 59 years in each (i) strategic health authority, (ii) primary care trust and (iii) parliamentary constituency were diagnosed with hepatitis C in each year since 1997.

Anne Milton: The available information is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			 Hepatitis C laboratory reports (age specific), England by region and year, 1997-2009 
			 Under 15 years 
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Total 
			 East Midlands 7 1 2 1 1 3 3 1 1 3 5 9 15 52 
			 Eastern 2 15 3 6 1 6 8 10 6 6 11 17 18 109 
			 London 12 5 10 7 7 48 68 9 4 6 13 31 32 252 
			 North East 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 3 2 0 5 6 20 
			 North West 2 4 2 6 6 10 39 41 26 17 15 25 21 214 
			 South East 33 14 3 12 3 13 6 9 11 8 11 10 12 145 
			 South West 0 1 4 5 9 20 17 11 8 12 21 9 7 124 
			 West Midlands 3 1 1 4 9 19 21 19 9 16 5 4 10 121 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 4 0 2 3 0 4 2 4 4 14 11 8 12 68 
			 Total 63 41 27 44 38 125 164 104 72 84 92 118 133 1,105 
		
	
	
		
			 15 to 59 years 
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Total 
			 East Midlands 162 165 185 173 143 223 308 368 455 263 375 594 555 3.969 
			 Eastern 336 473 506 502 388 317 381 478 549 586 575 621 549 6,261 
			 London 221 291 257 234 275 241 296 673 737 1,053 906 822 739 6,745 
			 North East 34 55 104 119 102 130 215 220 265 233 132 157 252 2,018 
			 North West 95 590 985 831 1,008 1,320 1,872 1,725 1,410 1,294 1.647 1,570 2,087 16,434 
		
	
	
		
			 South East 586 844 744 550 531 493 456 378 293 359 763 1,018 1,050 8,065 
			 South West 435 414 664 794 664 806 660 894 654 824 972 1,047 940 9.768 
			 West Midlands 178 458 531 532 476 568 437 468 504 455 577 637 796 6,617 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 147 133 224 376 219 294 459 568 996 1,416 1,299 1,275 1,027 8,433 
			 Total 2,194 3,423 4,200 4,111 3,806 4,392 5,084 5,772 5,863 6,483 7,246 7,741 7,995 68,310 
		
	
	
		
			 60 years or above 
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Total 
			 East Midlands 14 16 11 15 7 16 15 15 15 15 22 31 29 221 
			 Eastern 36 58 56 45 43 30 25 34 34 31 38 45 39 514 
			 London 24 39 33 24 37 43 33 67 70 138 104 122 91 825 
			 North East 6 3 7 11 11 5 14 20 18 10 7 5 8 125 
			 North West 13 37 70 61 55 53 90 85 68 56 80 76 77 821 
			 South East 45 73 54 39 35 24 33 20 19 22 51 73 73 561 
			 South West 48 34 46 56 53 29 32 34 27 35 52 64 54 564 
			 West Midlands 48 99 110 81 74 83 65 76 80 45 51 66 70 948 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 6 9 11 14 17 8 16 16 32 45 70 41 55 340 
			 Total 240 368 398 346 332 291 323 367 363 397 475 523 496 4,919 
			 Note: Information on hepatitis C diagnoses is only currently available down to regional level. Source: Health Protection Agency

Hepatitis: Mortality Rates

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data his Department collects on the (a) incidence of and (b) mortality rates from hepatitis C in England; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) does not routinely collect data on the incidence of hepatitis C because cases are difficult to detect, as they usually occur without symptoms, and there are no reliable laboratory assays to identify them.
	The HPA analyses mortality data collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to monitor the number of deaths coded both to hepatitis C and to end-stage liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma. As these data are likely to be subject to some under-ascertainment (due to incomplete coding), the HPA estimates mortality from hepatitis C related liver disease using both ONS death registrations and Hospital Episode Statistics data. This information is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 ONS registered deaths from hepatitis C related end stage liver disease or hepatocellular cancer, England, 2005-09 
			 2005 187 
			 2006 195 
			 2007 227 
			 2008 237 
			 2009 273 
		
	
	
		
			 HPA estimated deaths from hepatitis C related end stage liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma 
			 2005 446 
			 2006 488 
			 2007 530 
			 2008 575 
			 2009 620

Hospitals: Attendance

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of missed appointments in each of the last five years;
	(2)  if he will introduce financial penalties for missing NHS appointments.

Simon Burns: No estimates have been made centrally of the cost to the national health service of missed appointments. The financial cost of “did not attends” is notoriously difficult to calculate as NHS staff can use missed appointment time productively, seeing other patients; catching up on ‘paperwork’ or spending time on personal development and training.
	Across the NHS, organisations should be seeking to understand and address how best to achieve reductions in their areas. The introduction of new technologies that allow patients to book and cancel appointments on-line, combined with improved telecommunication systems with the use of SMS texts, email and appointment reminder systems/can all help to reduce missed appointments. We believe that encouraging patients to use the NHS sensibly and responsibly is the right approach; and have no plans for imposing financial penalties on patients.

Hospitals: Safety

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on safety and control measures in respect of patients and their visitors in each hospital in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The information requested on how much the national health service spent on safety and control measures in respect of patients and their visitors in each hospital is not available.

Learning Disability

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has for the provision of services for people with a learning disability who develop dementia in later life; and what plans he has for provision of support to families and carers of older people who have a learning disability;
	(2)  what plans he has for future support of the ageing population of people with a learning disability; and what assessment his Department has made of trends in the life expectancy of people with a learning disability.

Paul Burstow: The Department is committed to improving services for all people with dementia including those with learning disabilities. They should be helped to live well with dementia, no matter what the stage of their illness or where they are in the health and social care system.
	A revised outcomes focused Implementation Plan for the National Dementia Strategy was launched in September 2010, and this has a greater focus on local delivery and accountability in four key areas:
	good quality early diagnosis and intervention for all;
	improved quality of care in general hospitals;
	living well with dementia in care homes; and
	reduced use of antipsychotic medication.
	In the updated Carers Strategy, ‘Recognised, valued and supported: Next steps for the Carers Strategy’, we announced additional funding of £400 million to the national health service between 2011 and 2015 to enable more carers including those caring for people with learning disabilities to take breaks from their caring responsibilities.
	From 1 April, the Government have made £150 million available for re-ablement and £650 million for social care spend for front line services. This money will help people to leave hospital more quickly, get settled back at home with the support they need, and to prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital.
	The Department has not conducted analyses of trends in life expectancy of people with learning disabilities. In our analyses of demographic pressures on services for learning disabilities however we do take account of expected future rises in the numbers of people with learning disabilities as projected by the Centre for Disability Research at the university of Lancaster.

Leukaemia: Drugs

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the approach of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to the funding of drugs for people diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Paul Burstow: Since May 2010, we have received around 300 representations, including the hon. Member's question, regarding the ongoing National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraisal of dasatinib, high-dose imatinib and nilotinib for the treatment of imatinib-resistant chronic myeloid leukaemia.
	NICE'S consultation on its draft guidance closed on 27 May, and NICE will now consider the comments received before publishing its final guidance later in the year.

Multiple Sclerosis

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many multiple sclerosis specialist nurses are employed by the NHS;
	(2)  how many people (a) have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and (b) are receiving NHS care for this condition;
	(3)  whether his Department issues guidance on the maximum patient case load number for which a multiple sclerosis specialist nurse should be responsible;
	(4)  what plans his Department has for future numbers of multiple sclerosis specialist nurses in the NHS;
	(5)  which health service organisations will be responsible for the commissioning of hospital and community based specialist services for people with multiple sclerosis under the new organisational structures to be implemented in the national health service;
	(6)  what his policy is on the future of multiple sclerosis specialist nurses in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: Information on the number of multiple sclerosis specialist nurses employed by the national health service is not collected centrally,
	Information on the number of people diagnosed and receiving care for multiple sclerosis is not collected.
	The Department does not issue guidance on the maximum patient case load number for which multiple sclerosis specialist nurses should be responsible.
	It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to decide on the most appropriate work force levels, including specialist nursing posts, for their local population.
	It is proposed that clinical commissioning groups will have responsibility for the commissioning of services, including specialist nurses, to meet the health needs of those living with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple Sclerosis: Drugs

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of primary care trusts funding Sativex in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: Information on primary care trust funding policies on Sativex is not held centrally.
	For information on the number of prescription items for Sativex (including prescriptions written generically) that were prescribed in England and dispensed in the community in the United Kingdom, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Ipswich (Ben Gummer) on 13 June 2011, Official Report, column 646W.

Multiple Sclerosis: Drugs

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 84W, on multiple sclerosis, whether he expects the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to produce any guidance on the use of Sativex.

Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) announced on 22 June 2011 that it plans to update its clinical guideline on multiple sclerosis, Sativex is one of the new interventions which NICE has identified for inclusion in its updated guideline.

NHS: Competition

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the future of the (a) principles and rules for co-operation and competition and (b) Co-operation and Competition Panel in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: To emphasise the evolutionary nature of our approach to competition we are retaining the existing Principles and Rules for Co-operation and Competition—which reflects the principles of procurement and competition law—and the Co-operation and Competition Panel that advises on their application, as a body with a distinct identity within Monitor.

NHS: Competition

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential effect on (a) competition, (b) the role of the private sector and (c) the retention of experienced managers in the NHS of the proposed changes to his NHS reform proposals following the report of the NHS Future Forum.

Simon Burns: Following the Future Forum's recommendations, the Government's response makes clear that the role of competition in the national health service must be as a means to improving services for patients, ‘never an end in itself’ and as a result of the changes we have proposed, Monitor would not have a duty to promote competition.
	The Government are committed to giving patients greater choice and creating a level playing field, in which the best providers flourish, whether from the public, voluntary or private sector. We will make sure that what matters is the quality of care provided, not who owns the organisation providing it. As a result of the changes we have proposed, Monitor, the NHS Commissioning Board and the Secretary of State for Health would not be able to exercise their functions for the purpose of increasing the market shares of private providers.
	The Government response to the Future Forum's recommendations also confirmed that we will ensure high quality management is valued across the NHS, with a commitment to retaining the best talent across primary care trusts and strategic health authorities.

NHS: Standards

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has conducted research on levels of confidence among NHS staff in the adequacy of future care to be delivered by the NHS.

Simon Burns: There are no current plans to conduct specific research with national health service staff into their views about the adequacy of future care to be delivered in the NHS.
	However, the Department recognises that measuring and acting on staff experience information is an important factor in delivering improvements for staff and in turn patients.
	Information concerning a wide range of staff opinions on their work and workplaces is collected annually through the NHS staff survey, with data received and analysed from around 120,000 respondents nationally every year.
	The NHS staff survey is well established within the annual activities of the NHS and is recognised as the key source for robust staff feedback information.

Prescription Drugs: Misuse

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the public purse was of the reviews on addiction to prescribed drugs and over-the-counter medicines conducted by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse and the National Addiction Centre; and how much was paid to each organisation.

Anne Milton: The contract to produce the literature review on addiction to medicines was granted following a competitive bidding process. We will therefore not be releasing information on the cost of the report, commissioned from the National Addictions Centre on grounds of commercial confidentiality.
	The Department transferred funds to the National Treatment Agency (NTA) for their report “Addiction to Medicines—An investigation into the configuration and commissioning of treatment services to support those who develop problems with prescription only or over-the-counter medicine”. The NTA has spent £66,000 on producing their report.

Prescription Drugs: Misuse

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations his Department considered to review addiction to prescribed drugs and over-the-counter medicines prior to commissioning the National Addiction Centre and National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse to complete this work.

Anne Milton: Three organisations submitted formal bids to undertake the literature review on addiction to medicines. The Department will not be releasing the names of these organisations due to commercial confidentiality.

Prescription Drugs: Misuse

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons (a) patient groups and (b) charitable and not-for-profit groups were not consulted as part of the recent reviews on addiction to prescribed drugs and over-the-counter medicines conducted by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse and the National Addiction Centre.

Anne Milton: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I gave on 11 May 2011, Official Report, column 38WS.
	I will be leading work to involve relevant organisations and interested individuals to discuss the future action that is necessary in the light of the information contained in the reports. I look forward to discussions with Members of both Houses who have shown a long interest in this important area.

Prescription Drugs: Waste Management

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the amount of medicine which is wasted.

Simon Burns: Following research into the scale, causes and cost of waste medicines in England, the Department and key interested parties took part in a round table event hosted by the King's Fund on 20 January 2011 to discuss possible actions that could be taken forward either nationally or locally.
	There was agreement among all who attended that medicines wastage is a serious issue for the national health service and that action must be taken to tackle avoidable wastage of medicines as well as optimising medicines use to improve health outcomes. We will continue to work with the interested parties on this issue.
	The report of the event will be published shortly.

Psychiatry

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential effect of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on psychotherapy on the provision on the NHS of the full range of psychotherapies for patients; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: No such assessment has been made. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is an independent body and does not make recommendations based on Government policy, but on evidence. NICE has not produced guidelines on psychotherapy. Guidelines are produced on a range of conditions for which certain types of psychotherapy may be appropriate, and they recommend such treatments according to the evidence.
	NICE'S clinical guidelines represent best practice and are based on the best available evidence and developed through wide consultation. They relate to a whole pathway of care and can make a large number of recommendations spanning all stages of care from diagnosis to treatment of a condition.
	In view of their complexity and because of the different states of readiness for implementation in the national health service, clinical guidelines are not subject to the same statutory funding direction as NICE'S technology appraisals.

Sex: Health Education

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department's Sex, Worth Talking About campaign material will be available for use locally.

Anne Milton: The Department's Sex Worth Talking About campaign ran from November 2009 to the end of March 2010. The materials from the campaign have been available since April 2011 for local areas to use should they wish to and can be obtained from the NHS Choices Sexual Health Professional web pages, together with a guide on how the materials can be used. These can be found at:
	www.nhs.uk/sexualhealthprofessional/Pages/campaign-resources.aspx

Sex: Health Education

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government plans to issue a sexual health strategy.

Anne Milton: The Department plans to publish a sexual health policy document later this year.

Varicose Veins: Medical Treatments

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the availability of NHS treatment for varicose veins; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Ministers have made no assessment of the availability of national health service treatment for varicose veins. It is for local commissioners, in consultation, with patients and the general public, to commission services that will best meet the needs of their population within the resources available to them. In doing so, they will wish to take account of available professional guidance on the clinical and cost effectiveness of particular procedures.